Shipowner Gerdes Green, a joint venture between Reederei Gerdes and Over-C, has received a grant from Germany’s Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport towards the cost of investment in sustainable innovations for a pair of coastal vessels. The grant was awarded as part of the country’s Namkü directive to reduce emissions from the coastal fleet. 

The grant was allocated to a Damen Combi Freighter (CF) 3850 vessel currently under construction, as well as for a second vessel. Damen, together with Gerdes Green and vessel charterer Cargill, has developed a low-emission vessel design, the CF 3850 Hybrid, to lower the environmental footprint of coaster vessel operations.