V.Ships France has sealed a deal with Eastaway France, a subsidiary of X-Press Feeders, for the technical management of four methanol dual-fuel containerships.
The shipmanager will take on four newbuild 1,170 teu vessels that will sail under the French Flag and operate across Europe following their delivery later this year.
The first vessel, launched last August, will be delivered from New Dayang in summer 2024. The first services will be on the Rotterdam-Antwerp Bruges-Riga-Klaipeda-Rotterdam and Rotterdam-Antwerp Bruges-Helsinki-Tallinn-Kotka routes starting in the third quarter. The feeder giant has a green methanol offtake deal in place with OCI Global at the Port of Rotterdam from this year.
V.Ships France, part of V.Group, currently manages six dual-fuel vessels, including two LNG bunker vessels.
“This opportunity consolidates our expertise in dual fuel operations, both ashore and onboard, and will increase the number of V. seafarers with experience of dual fuel vessels, allowing us to strengthen our offering as we train seafarers to handle methanol,” said Thierry Sarazin, managing director of V.Ships France.
