The first in a series of eight Conoship designed ECO-8500 vessels 

The MV Frisian Future has been successfully launched at the Chowgule Shipyard in India. The vessel is the first in a series of eight ECO-8500 multi-purpose cargo vessels designed by Conoship. With this launch, a new generation of short-sea vessels moves from the drawing board to reality. 

All eight ECO-8500 vessels will be chartered by NewTide Chartering, part of the Boomsma Group. The series consists of: 

• Three vessels for Boomsma Shipping, including Frisian Future
• Three vessels for Leonhardt & Blumberg
• Two vessels for JR Shipping

The Frisian Future is scheduled for delivery in Q1 of next year. 

A Design Shaped by Daily Operation 

The ECO-8500 design was developed with a clear operational question in mind: how to carry more cargo with less energy, without sacrificing flexibility? With a deadweight of 8,500 tonnes and a 13,900 m³ single, open-top hold fitted with a full tween deck, the vessel is suited for a wide range of cargoes typical for short-sea trades. 

Key characteristics of the design include an extremely efficient cargo-to-energy ratio, optimized diesel-electric propulsion, and a layout prepared for future adaptations. The propulsion concept is designed to allow lifetime expansion and integration of alternative fuels as they become available. Compared to existing vessels in this segment, propulsion energy demand is reduced by approximately 50 to 60 percent. 

From the early design phase onward, space and weight margins have been reserved for future technologies such as wind-assisted propulsion, battery operation, and carbon capture, allowing owners to respond to regulatory and operational changes without major structural modifications. 

A Shared Direction 

Frisian Future shows a shared, pragmatic decision by those involved to reduce fuel use today and keep technical options open for the years ahead.