Norwegian owner and operator of dry bulk vessels Halten Bulk has signed contracts for up to four 7,100-dwt self-dischargers at Jiangsu SOHO Marine Heavy Industry.

The contracts are already effective for the first two vessels and Halten Bulk has secured options for two additional units.

The vessels are designed with a particular focus on sailing performance in order to maximize the direct contribution from wind, nature’s own renewable energy source.

In addition to rotor sails, the vessels will feature a hybrid-electric propulsion system including a shaft generator and battery pack.

They will also be equipped with an electric excavator and several additional energy-efficiency measures, the Norwegian Ship Design Company said.

The vessels’ design has been given the designation NSD 105CC.

The newbuilds will primarily operate in the spot market along the Norwegian coast, in the North Sea, the Nordic region and the Baltic, in line with Halten Bulk’s existing fleet.

“The vessels now contracted are a natural continuation of the ‘Powered by Nature’ concept developed by Egil Ulvan Rederi AS in close cooperation with The Norwegian Ship Design Company,” said Ivar Ulvan, managing director of Halten Bulk AS.

From his side, Gjermund Johannessen, managing director of Norwegian Ship Design Company, added: “Halten Bulk, Egil Ulvan Rederi and The Norwegian Ship Design Company have enjoyed close cooperation over a long period. Key personnel from the companies have together developed and delivered a double-digit number of vessels. The ‘Powered by Nature’ concept is another example of this fruitful collaboration.”

With head office in Trondheim, Norway, Halten Bulk AS owns and operates dry bulk vessels, everyone self-discharging.