Isle of Wight based Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd, the well established family owned shipowner/manager and Thecla Bodewes Shipyards, in Kampen, the Netherlands have announced the signing of a major shipbuilding contract.

The contract marks a milestone in the growth and expansion of both companies as they embark on a joint journey to further expand the successful diesel-electric multipurpose dry-cargo vessel series.

The contract signing ceremony took place in the beginning of September, bringing together key representatives from both parties, including Mrs. Thecla Bodewes, CEO of Thecla Bodewes Shipyards and Mrs. Helen Tveitan, CEO of Carisbrooke Shipping which also has an office in Rotterdam. The partnership between Thecla Bodewes Shipyards and Carisbrooke Shipping represents a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and the advancement of maritime transportation.

Construction of the Labrax 7,280dwt multipurpose dry cargo vessel represents a significant investment by Carisbrooke Shipping in the renewal of our fleet, which will play a critical role in enhancing our global shipping operations.

The diesel-electric propulsion system on board the Labrax 7,280dwt vessel, in combination with the advanced power-management system minimizes energy losses, reduces overall fuel consumption and reduces CO2 emissions. The result has already been proven in the performance of the first two newbuilds of the series. In addition, the installed propulsion power is considerably lower compared to ships of equal cargo capacity and with conventional propulsion.

The 118.60m Labrax vessel for Carisbrooke Shipping is planned to be delivered in 2026.