On 2 May 2023 Associated British Ports (ABP’s) Port of Ipswich, the UK’s leading grain export port, welcomed the maiden call of Vertom Cyta, a brand-new hybrid-electric shortsea general cargo ship.
Vertom Cyta is the second in a series of four new Vertom vessels fitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system, which provides a more sustainable option for shipping operations with increased efficiency and reduced emissions.
The ship was officially launched with a ceremony at the Thecla Bodewes Shipyards facility in Kampen, Netherlands, on 23 February 2023.
Following final fitout, the vessel departed the Port of Harlingen in the Netherlands on Monday 1 May, and sailed under ballast to the Port of Ipswich.
While the vessel was at the Port of Ipswich, Clarkson’s Port Services loaded a very first cargo, 7,000 tonnes of wheat, which is due to be shipped to Portugal for her first delivery of commercial cargo.
Photo by Martin Klingsick/shipspotting.com
