SHORTSEA

The tanker shipping companies Furetank (Sweden) and Algoma Central (Canada) are jointly setting up the FureBear joint venture with the aim of bringing four new ‘climate-friendly’ product tankers into service in Northern European shortsea traffic.

The Swedes have already prepared the design for the ships. Furetank has designed a 17,999 dwt dual-fuel, ice-strengthened product tanker in collaboration with Swedish design agency FKAB Marine Design. The FureBear ships will soon become colleagues of existing ships of the ‘Vinga’ series from Furetank (image), which are also ‘dual fuel’ suitable and can sail on lng/lbg (liquefied bio gas) or gas oil.

Furetank and Algoma both have a 50% interest in the ‘joint venture with a sustainability focus’ to ensure that the quartet of vessels comes into service. The two companies say in a press statement that they share “the same goals and values”. Gothenburg will be home to the four vessels. Completion is expected between 2023 and 2025.