North Sea Container Line christens newest methanol-fuelled feeder ship

Norwegian transport company North Sea Container Line (NCL) has formally named the newest feeder container vessel to join its fleet.

NCL Vestland is owned by Norway's MPC Container Ships (MPCC) and will be operated under a 15-year charter with NCL. Construction of the vessel was undertaken at Taizhou Sanfu Shipbuilding in China.

NCL Vestland is the first unit in a series of two containerships ordered by MPCC. The vessels are notable for being fitted with dual-fuel engines that can run on MGO or green methanol as a low-emission alternative.

NCL Nordland, the second vessel in the series, is scheduled to be handed over to MPCC later in the first half of 2025. Both will sail under the Portuguese flag.

Equipped with ice class hulls, the feeder vessels will be deployed on trades along the Norwegian west coast where MPCC said they can generate up to 95 per cent fewer emissions compared to conventional ships.

NCL Vestland has an LOA of 150 metres, a beam of 26.8 metres, a draught of 9.9 metres, a deadweight of 18,800, a design speed of 18 knots, and a capacity of 1,300 TEUs including up to 380 reefer containers and containers laden with IMDG-compliant dangerous goods.