Breakbulk Magazine, Issue 2/2017
Fednav welcomed the Federal Bering to its fleet at the Port of Antwerp in November 2015. The ship was built as part of Fednav’s newbuilding program that will see 19 new handysize lakers, specifically designed for the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes, delivered through 2018.
However, the company’s activities are by no means restricted to the Saint Lawrence Seaway. With a combination of handysize, supramax and ultramax vessels, Fednav also owns and operates two of the most powerful bulk-carrying icebreakers as well as the largest ice-class bulk carrier fleet in the world.
The environmental characteristics of these vessels include 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar vessels built 15 years ago, a decrease of more than 15 percent nitrogen oxide emissions, a B+ rating from shippingefficiency.com and a CLEAN notation from the DNV/GL classification society.
Etienne De Vel, commercial manager of European operations at Fednav, said: “By continuing to expand our fleet and operations, our fleet will be one of the most modern, efficient and environmentally friendly trading between Europe and North America, especially in the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway System.”
On the Federal Bering’s maiden voyage, the vessel transported mainly steel products but also some project cargoes from the Port of Antwerp to Chicago and Burns Harbor.