More means for short-sea shipping
The Nesec Shipping Debt Fund has been launched in the Netherlands. Through the fund, institutional investors and the province of Groningen offer financing for Dutch shipowners who are planning to acquire (or re-build) short-sea vessels. The fund is partly backed by a guarantee from the Dutch state. “Shipping companies in Groningen own 75% of the 400 ships in the Northern Netherlands.
So Groningen is a genuine short-sea province,” said Henk Staghouwer, a member of the Groningen provincial executive. “No fewer than 112 short-sea vessels were launched from northern shipyards between 2012 and 2017. We are happy to provide the forty shipping companies active in this field with access to financing for the construction of new, innovative vessels.”
Pieter van der Burg of Nesec, which was founded in 1946 to promote the export of vessels built in the Netherlands and to provide financing for shipowners, commented: “Due to Basel IV capital measures that will be fully implemented in 2022, banks can reduce their long-term ship financing. Ageing vessels and new emission regulations mean that the fleet requires renewal.” (mw)