Port of Auckland subsidiary Seafuels has signed a shipbuilding contract for a new vessel that will allow shipping lines to refuel with more sustainable fuels. The announcement was made on Thursday (4 December), reports Manifold Times.
The new vessel will replace Seafuels’ current bunkering ship, Awanuia, which has served Auckland for 18 years. The contract has been awarded to Ada Denizcilik Ve Tersane Isletmeciligi, a shipbuilder based in Tuzla, Turkey.
The new tanker will be 88.8 metres long and built as an IMO Class II Chemical Tanker. It is expected to be completed and named in late 2027. The USD 50 million project includes the construction of the vessel, which will be capable of supplying two cleaner fuel options—biodiesel and methanol—along with low-sulphur fuel and marine diesel oil.
Port of Auckland CEO Roger Gray said the project is an important step in supporting low-carbon shipping. “We have worked with our shipping line customers to understand their future fuel needs, and we’re pleased to offer a practical tool to support cleaner shipping,” he said.
Seafuels Director Allan D’Souza said the investment highlights the port’s commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability, as the maritime industry moves toward cleaner energy.
The global shipping sector accounts for 2–3% of total emissions. The International Maritime Organization aims to achieve zero emissions by 2050, and Port of Auckland is working towards the same goal. The new bunkering vessel adds to the port’s sustainability efforts, which include the launch of Sparky, the world’s first full-sized electric tugboat, in 2022.
“Reaching these targets will require major changes, and Port of Auckland is pleased to help ships in New Zealand make this transition,” Gray added.
