free hit counter

Safe Bulkers starts gradual fleet renewal focusing on green ships

Posted On: 23-11-2020

Dry bulk shipping company Safe Bulkers wants to gradually renew its fleet with modern designs compliant with the new environmental regulations. In line with those efforts, in October 2020, the company signed a deal to buy a Japanese-built, Kamsarmax class, 82,000 dwt, newbuild bulker with a scheduled delivery within the first half of 2022. Safe Bulkers said the vessel is designed to meet the latest requirements of Energy Efficiency Design Index to Green House Gas, GHG emissions, and 'EEDI Phase 3'. It will also comply with the latest NOx emissions regulation, NOx-Tier III. The bulker owner has also entered into a sale and leaseback through a bareboat charter agreement with a third party for 90% financing of this acquisition. As informed, the bareboat charter to be consummated upon delivery will have a duration of ten years with a purchase obligation. The bulker owner has been strong supporter of scrubber technology as a pathway for becoming compliant with the IMO 2020 Sulphur cap. As of September 30, 2020, it has completed the installation of 20 scrubbers and continues the project of retrofitting BWTS in all vessels of the replica Rolex company's fleet, having installed 30 systems to date. The aggregate cost of the company's environmental investments as of quarter end was $66.7 million. For the third quarter of 2020, Safe Bulkers reported a net income of $3.3. million against a $13.9 million loss in the previous quarter and a $5.9 million income in Q3 2019. For the first nine months of 2020, the net loss stood at $20.5 million, against a net income of $12.5 million a year earlier.(Credits: www.offshore-energy.biz)