Norwegian companies OSM Thome and Pherousa Green Shipping AS (PGS) have entered a Letter of Intent outlining their collaboration on a series of 63000 dead weight (dwt) Ultramax vessels to be ordered by PGS. The collaboration involves Phases I, II and III, encompassing drawing approval, project development and site supervision for six 63000 dwt Ultramax Bulk Carriers. Furthermore, OSM Thome will manage the crew and technical management of the constructed vessels.

Pherousa Green Shipping AS, headquartered in Oslo and established in 2023, is in the process of initiating an order for up to six modern, zero-emission Ultramax dry bulk carriers. These vessels are designed by Deltamarin in Finland. The initial ship design is derived from an existing Deltamarin Ultramax model, but it has been modified to include the ammonia cracking technology developed by Pherousa Green Technologies AS (PGT). This technology employs ammonia as a H₂ carrier, facilitating true zero-emission propulsion.

OSM Thome boasts expertise in supervising the design and construction of various vessel types, including anchor handling tug and supply (AHTS) vessels, shuttle tankers, dry bulk vessels, MR tankers, PSVs, jack up rigs, storage platforms, car carriers, RORO and RO-Pax carriers, accommodation barges and vessels, offshore decommissioning projects, battery operated vessels (BOBs) and battery-operated ferries (Norwegian Sector), fully autonomous vessels (ammonia propulsion), expedition vessels and cruise liners.

"We are delighted to partner with the renowned shipmanagement group, OSM Thome, to assist us on finalizing our forthcoming fleet of true zero-emission Ultramax bulk carriers. Our early agreement with OSM Thome ensures that crew members will be prepared and trained well in advance of vessel delivery. This proactive approach guarantees the establishment of safety measures and protocols in accordance with the guidelines for safe handling at sea," said Hans Bredrup, Chairman of the Pherousa Group.

The initial fleet of six Ultramax dry bulk carriers has a specific focus on serving the global copper industry. Given copper's pivotal role in worldwide decarbonization efforts, the copper industry has set ambitious emission reduction targets, encompassing Scope 3 emissions which involve transportation to end users. "The concept has garnered significant support, and we are actively engaging with key stakeholders in both ammonia supply and vessel end users. This momentum is propelling us towards realizing zero-emission copper transportation, fostering a fully zero carbon supply chain from mines to destinations," said Bredrup.

“We really appreciate the trust that PGS has in our abilities by signing this agreement. Since the merger of OSM Maritime Group and Thome Group was finalized in May this year creating the combined entity OSM Thome, we have worked hard to amalgamate and build on the best attributes and skills of all our employees to provide real benefits for our customers. We are looking forward to working closely with the team at PGS to ensure that this project is successfully supervised and managed to create sustainable transportation solutions,” said Tommy Olofsen, OSM Thome’s Chief Commercial Officer.