Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA ("KCC") has taken delivery of MV Baltazar, the third and final contracted third-generation CABU vessel, from New Yangzi Shipyard in China. The delivery marks the completion of KCC's CABU III newbuilding program and expands the company's fleet to 19 combination carriers.

MV Baltazar is the first vessel in KCC's fleet equipped with a wind-assisted propulsion system. Fitted with two bound4blue eSAIL® suction sails, the vessel joins sister ships MV Balder and MV Bastion in incorporating a suite of energy efficiency measures, including an air lubrication system, a shaft generator, an EcoEGR fuel-optimized main engine, and a Mewis duct. The vessel is also prepared for future retrofitting to accommodate zero or near-zero emission fuels. The adoption of suction sail technology reflects a broader trend in commercial shipping, where operators are increasingly turning to wind-assisted propulsion and hull-mounted efficiency systems to reduce fuel consumption and meet tightening international emissions standards.

Designed for trades transporting caustic soda solution to Australia with return voyages carrying dry bulk commodities, MV Baltazar achieves approximately 35% lower carbon footprint and roughly 20% higher earnings capacity compared to KCC's first-generation CABU vessels. Caustic soda is a key input in the Bayer process used to refine bauxite into alumina, the intermediate product from which aluminum is smelted, and Australia is one of the world's largest alumina producers, making this trade route strategically important for global aluminum supply chains.

Following the delivery, KCC now operates a full fleet of 11 CABU and eight CLEANBU combination carriers.

The vessel completed its official sea trials in July 2026.

Longstanding Presence in Australian Trades

MV Baltazar reinforces KCC's decades-long combination carrier operations in Australia, where the company's capacity to combine wet and dry bulk cargoes enables highly efficient trading with minimal ballasting. The CABU activities have become an integral part of the aluminum value chain, supporting customers' supply chains and long-term logistics planning. KCC states that the three CABU newbuilds will further enhance the flexibility and cost efficiency of Scope 3 emissions in customers' ocean freight.

Reflecting the significance of these trades and KCC's established presence in the region, the company will host customers, partners, and industry stakeholders for MV Baltazar's naming ceremony in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 9 September, following the vessel's maiden voyage.

About Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA

KCC is the world leader in combination carriers, owning and operating 11 CABU and eight CLEANBU combination carriers. The vessels are designed for the transportation of both wet and dry bulk cargoes and are deployed in trades where they efficiently combine cargo types with minimum ballast. Through high utilization and trading efficiency, the vessels emit up to 35% less CO₂ per transported ton compared to standard tanker and dry bulk vessels in current and targeted combination trading patterns.

Source: Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA