Designing the Next Generation of Cement Carriers

Engineering sustainability into today’s bulk logistics

At Conoship International, we design ships for the realities of tomorrow. The cement shipping industry faces growing pressure: stricter emissions regulations, rising fuel costs, aging vessels, and increased complexity in cargo handling. Everyone agrees that change is coming for cement carriers, yet few know exactly what to invest in today.

This uncertainty is precisely where design leadership matters. Our role is to define and deliver vessel solutions that are modular, adaptable, and future-proof, before regulations regarding emissions and infrastructure have settled. We don’t just design ships. We design logistical solutions for an industry that adapts to the future.

The ageing Cement Carriers Fleet

Today’s cement carrier fleet is aging fast. According to Clarksons Research, the global cement carrier fleet (>2000DWT) has an average age of 26 years. Over 140 out of 340 active vessels are even more than 30 years old. These ships were not designed for modern emission rules or energy efficiency expectations. Their layouts, propulsion systems, and hold geometries are often frozen in time, making them no longer suitable for current or future logistical demands.

The current cement carrier fleet calls for renewal. The cement industry will remain vital for global construction infrastructure, but it is also a major producer of carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, an opportunity arises for more sustainable transport solutions for cement carriers.

Conversion vs. Newbuild Considerations

Purpose-built cement carriers deliver optimal performance by integrating moisture protection, flexible loading systems, and self-discharging capabilities directly into the vessel’s design. Conversions, by contrast, can offer faster delivery and lower initial investment, provided they are executed with care.

Each path comes with its own design logic:

• Conversions are effective when timing or capital constraints apply. But success hinges on rigorous naval architecture: structural reinforcement, spatial reconfiguration, and seamless integration of cement-handling systems—without compromising safety or vessel performance.
• Newbuilds offer full architectural control. From propulsion selection to hold layout, every element is engineered for maximum efficiency, regulatory compliance, and operational longevity.

Our design approach begins with understanding your operational needs, including route profile, port interfaces, cargo handling cycle. This results in the engineering of a platform that delivers on that vision.

Future-proof Newbuild Cement Carriers

New purpose-built cement carrier designs are available at Conoship, as client-tailored designs, or based on its range of CIP-series standard vessels. These CIP-series vessels feature extremely low fuel consumption, diesel-electric propulsion, and modular design. This provides the opportunity for your vessels to stay ahead of upcoming regulations, by the possibility of easy conversion to alternative fuels. The standardized designs allow for reduced delivery times and enhanced cost efficiency compared to fully customized solutions. Recent successes of the CIP series provide a solid platform for a Cement Carrier design.

At Conoship, Cement Carrier concepts have been developed for various vessel sizes to meet different operational requirements and route profiles, such as the 7000 and 9000DWT variant.

These 7000 and 9000DWT designs incorporate four dedicated cement cargo holds, developed for maximum capacity utilization and efficient cargo handling. The hold configuration enables independent loading and discharge operations while maintaining optimal weight distribution throughout the vessel.

The case for conversion: Cembrook Cement Carrier

Back in 2017, the vessel Cembrook was successfully converted into a cement carrier while initially designed as a 4500DWT general cargo vessel. The Cembrook project exemplifies successful cement carrier conversion engineering. The conversion, a close collaboration between Conoship International and Veka Shipyard, saw the vessel become a 5,316 dwt cement carrier for German operator Brise Schifffahrt.

The conversion involved extending the vessel’s hull by 15 meters and integrating comprehensive cement handling equipment. The final vessel features dual loading capabilities. This includes both gravity-fed systems with central inlets and pneumatic loading options – alongside self-discharge technology for operational flexibility.

This project demonstrates how strategic conversion can transform market challenges into operational solutions. Repurposing a semi-finished hull rather than starting from scratch can provide a significant cost and time advantage

Project Specifications

• Length: 99.95 meters | Beam: 14.4 meters
• Gross Tonnage: 3,517 | Deadweight: 5,316 tons
• Built: 2017 | Flag: Cyprus
• Dual cement loading systems with pneumatic self-discharge capability

Supporting your cement transport operations

Modern cement transport operations require vessels engineered specifically for this demanding application. The integration of dual loading systems, self-discharge technology, and cargo protection measures cannot be achieved through simple adaptation of standard vessels.

For shipowners, considering renewal of cement carriers requires optimal operational performance and long-term reliability in this challenging market segment.

If your operations depend on future-proof cement transport, start where it matters most: the design.