A New Class of Low-Emission Cement Carrier Heidelberg Materials, Hartmann Group Advance Methanol Maritime Technology

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When Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe introduces its next-generation, methanol-powered cement carrier into Norwegian service in early 2028, it will mark more than the arrival of a single newbuild, rather a fundamental shift in the way bulk cargo owners, shipbuilders, operators, and regulators collaborate to cut emissions in the coastal cement distribution trade.

For a company that distributes more than 3.5 million tons of cement annually across Scandinavia, the Baltics and Iceland, fleet efficiency is not a side interest, it is strategic core business. And with the introduction of low-emission cement products, such as evoBuild and evoZero produced at the Brevik carbon-capture facility, transport emissions now account for a larger share of Heidelberg’s total carbon footprint.

“This vessel cuts emissions by 80% and increases our overall transport efficiency,” said Knut Omreng, Director Logistics, Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe. “A 10-year contract signals our willingness to support innovation and build lasting partnerships.”

Those partners include the Hartmann Group, chosen after a competitive tender to design, own, and operate the new ship; the Green Shipping Program (GSP), which provided technical and strategic support; and the Norwegian NOx Fund, whose $6m contribution made the project commercially viable.

The result is a vessel that aims to establish an entirely new benchmark in the small-to-mid-size bulk carrier market: methanol propulsion optimized for the daily realities of Scandinavian coastal cement logistics.

Cement Carrier Built for Methanol from Day One

Although final drawings have not yet been released, the technical profile of the newbuild is taking shape—and it is clear that Hartmann and Heidelberg Materials are not merely retrofitting an existing design. They are building a purpose-engineered cement carrier optimized for methanol propulsion, energy efficiency, and Scandinavian port logistics.

Key Technical Features (Preliminary)

Cargo capacity: ~9,000 tons of cement
- More than 1,000 tons greater than the vessel it replaces
Fuel system:
- Dual-fuel methanol/diesel propulsion system
- Capable of running on a variable methanol mix to optimize performance and economics
Emissions impact:
- 80% reduction in CO₂ compared with an equivalent diesel-powered cement carrier
- Up to 6,000 tons of CO₂ saved annually
Energy-optimized hull and machinery
- Designed to use less total fuel despite increased cargo capacity
Trading area:
- Norwegian domestic routes, supplying Brevik-produced cement to Oslo, Bergen, Kristiansand, Stavanger
Operational profile:
- High-frequency coastal shuttle service with tight port calls and demanding weather

The 9,000-ton cargo hold is a deliberate choice: by increasing payload while simultaneously lowering energy consumption, Heidelberg Materials improves both emissions per ton-mile and absolute emissions per voyage.

A Practical Pathway to Decarbonized Coasters

In an era of competing future fuels—ammonia, hydrogen, LNG, batteries, and hybrid systems—methanol continues to demonstrate one clear advantage in coastal trades: it is technologically ready today.

The dual-fuel system is engineered to run on primarily green methanol, with marine diesel used only as needed. At the designed fuel blend, CO₂ emissions fall by approximately 80%, a step change in an industry where incremental improvements are common and transformational changes are rare.

For Hartmann Group, methanol represents a realistic balancing act between technological maturity, maritime safety, and bunkering availability.

“We are committed to invest in environmentally friendly technologies that reduce maritime carbon footprint,” said Niels Hartmann, CEO, Hartmann Holdings. “This initiative shows how cargo owners and shipping companies can jointly drive innovation in low-emission transport.”

A Public-Private Ecosystem

While technology is central to the project, its success hinges on something equally complex: collaboration across the maritime value chain.

Heidelberg Materials applied to the Norwegian NOx Fund in early 2025 for support. Without its $6m contribution, the project would not have cleared the financial hurdle.

“This vessel is a tangible result of public-private collaboration,” said Tommy Johnsen, Managing Director, Norwegian NOx Fund. “It sets a new benchmark for low-emission bulk transport.”

Since 2008, the Fund has supported more than 1,000 maritime emission-reduction projects, including LNG ships, hybrid vessels, and shore power installations.

The vessel is part of Norway’s Green Shipping Program, a national initiative administered by DNV. The GSP enabled Heidelberg Materials to connect with shipowners, technology providers, and policymakers, dramatically accelerating project development.

“For a successful green transition, cargo owners must request low- and zero-emission vessels—as Heidelberg has done,” said Jørgen Laake, Interim Head, Green Shipping Program. “This milestone demonstrates that multiple pathways to zero emissions are viable.”

A Key Link in a Low-Carbon Cement Supply Chain

Heidelberg Materials’ strategy is not simply to produce greener cement, it is to create a fully decarbonized value chain from production to delivery.

At the Brevik plant, carbon capture is reducing the emissions embedded in each ton of cement. Once the new vessel enters service, the transport of that cement will also take a major step toward decarbonization.

For a product where production-site emissions have historically dominated the footprint, low-emission logistics suddenly matter more than ever.

“Transporting low emission cement on a low emission vessel fits our ambition to reduce our carbon footprint all the way from production to delivery,” the company said.

The Hartmann–Heidelberg partnership has deep roots, and this project reaffirms the importance of long-term cooperation for low-carbon shipping. Cement carriers are highly specialized assets—pneumatic unloading, tight port windows, shallow coastal berths—and require deep understanding of cargo operations.

By committing to a 10-year charter from day one, Heidelberg Materials gives Hartmann the certainty needed to invest in methanol propulsion and optimized hull design. It is the type of commercial alignment that will likely define the next decade of maritime decarbonization.

Small Ship, Big Influence

At 9,000 tons of cargo capacity and designed for short-sea shuttle service, the newbuild is not large by global shipping standards. But its impact may be far larger.

the first methanol-powered cement carrier,
built for high-frequency coastal operations,
supported by public-private climate financing,
embedded in a national green shipping framework,
and connected to an industrial decarbonization strategy spanning production, transport and delivery.