The keel-laying ceremony always marks a turning point in a ship’s construction. On September 20, Marfret\u2019s technical teams experienced an emotional moment at the Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard in China during the ceremony celebrating the keel laying of the Durande. This new 1,900 TEU container ship, set to take to the seas in March 2025, embodies the future of maritime transport for the company.<\/p>\n\n
A major project for Marfret<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The construction of the second-generation Durande is progressing rapidly. This vessel is the third in a series of four identical container ships, the result of a joint venture between Marfret and the German family-owned company Reederei Nord. The $30 million investment in this acquisition demonstrates Marfret\u2019s ambition to strengthen its fleet with modern and efficient ships. Like its predecessor, the Durande will be a Bangkok Max-type container ship, measuring 172 meters long and 27.5 meters wide, with a capacity of 1,900 TEU and 350 reefer plugs.<\/p>\n\n Pierre Albrieux, Marfret\u2019s technical director, who was present at the ceremony, expressed his enthusiasm: \u201cThis is a symbolic moment for Marfret. The keel laying marks the beginning of the realization of this ambitious project, which represents months of hard work by our teams and close collaboration with our partners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Sustainability and innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The future Durande will incorporate the latest advancements in sustainability and energy efficiency. With an optimized hull and bow design, along with improved engine technologies, this next-generation vessel will achieve a 50% reduction in fuel consumption at a speed of 16 knots. This major advancement will also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a priority for Marfret in the context of ecological transition.<\/p>\n\n Furthermore, the Durande will be designed to adapt to future energy requirements. Initially powered by conventional desulfurized fuel, it will be equipped for conversion to methanol, a cleaner fuel and a promising solution for the future.<\/p>\n\n Pierre Albrieux adds, \u201cThese new technologies not only allow us to improve the energy efficiency of our fleet but also to prepare for tomorrow\u2019s environmental challenges. The Durande will be a true model of sustainability for the years to come.<\/p>\n\n The next major milestone in this project will be the Durande\u2019s launch in December 2024, ahead of its delivery in the first quarter of 2025. Marfret, which already integrated the Ferrymar ro-ro vessel into its fleet earlier this year, is further strengthening its commitment to innovation and performance. Once delivered, the Durande will sail under the French flag and will be ready to face the challenges of the charter market, 20 years after its illustrious predecessor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The keel-laying ceremony always marks a turning point in a ship’s construction. On September 20, Marfret\u2019s technical teams experienced an emotional moment at the Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard in China during the ceremony celebrating the keel laying of the Durande. This new 1,900 TEU container ship, set to take to the seas in March 2025, embodies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":14987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[258],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-nl-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n