Today at the Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corporation’s shipyard in Mizushima, d’Amico Group, the Italian ship- owner operating for over 60 years in the international shipping celebrates the delivery of the “handy-cape” type vessel “Cielo d’Italia”, the largest and most innovative ship in the history of the Group.

The value of the order for “Cielo d’Italia” and its “handy cape” sister which will be delivered in the first quarter of 2016 is approximately region 100 M$ (benefitting from the prevailing favourable weakening of the yen against the dollar) and is part of the most significant development plan in the history of d’Amico Group. For the 2014-2016 period, the Group has invested approximately $1.2 billion by ordering 38 new ships, both bulkers and tanker vessels.

The 117,000 TDW ship, 245m long and 43m wide, is the result of multi-year collaboration between two prominent companies on the international shipping scene, who working very closely designed an extremely innovative ship characterized by extremely effective design particulars, respect for the environment and energy efficiency, capable of reducing consumption and emissions by 20%, compared to other ships operating in the same segment.

“Today we celebrate the delivery and naming of the largest ship in the history of our company – stated Cesare d’Amico – which further consolidates our leading position among the youngest and most innovative fleets all over the world. The extraordinary commitment to seek an even higher level of safety, environmental awareness and performance, shared with an absolutely reliable partner such as Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corporation, today allows us to deliver on the market a ship with unique features that sets new standards for the future of shipping in this segment.”

“We are very happy to have this memorable day of delivery and naming of Cielo d’Italia together with all my friends from d’Amico Group; one of the most reputable and well known shipping companies in the world – stated Takashi Ueda, President of Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corporation. Cielo d’Italia has made a splendid debut to the shipping society. Having a short tour on board with our guests today, I am now strongly assured all efforts have been made in collaboration among three companies of d’Amico, Mitsui and Sanoyas. I do believe that our close relationship is deepened further, and hope that such a good relationship will continue for many years to come.”

Over the years, the project born in 2008 underwent several revisions by d’Amico Group with the aim of further improving the efficiency profile of the “handy-capes” vessels available on the market. Thanks to the work of the two technical offices as well as that of the trading company Mitsui &amp; Co., in 2013 the ship was completely redesigned and equipped with a latest generation fully electronic engine system, featuring automatic control for optimizing consumption.
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Safety is guaranteed with the award of additional certification classes by international bodies that exceed legal requirements, thus anticipating industry standards that will become effective in the coming years.
The choice of d’Amico Group to focus on the construction of two new generation “handy-cape” vessels is motivated by extraordinary versatility of this type of vessel, larger than the traditional Post-Panamax vessels though smaller than the Cape vessels. In fact, their versatility in terms of size and loadable capacity allows for multiple uses as regards both the type of goods transported and the routes covered.

Together with the extraordinary construction features, this characteristic will also enable d’Amico Dry, the company that will operate the vessel for the transportation of raw materials, mainly coal and minerals, to increase the profitability and market attractiveness of its international routes.

The d'Amico Group has been present in Asia since 2000 and today, by its office in Singapore and its activities in Japan, stands out among the most active Italian companies. Over the years it has managed 18 ships, some of them in joint ventures with Japanese multinationals; twelve for the transport of vegetable oils and refined petroleum products, and six destined for dry cargo such as raw materials, timber and metals. Present commitments for future long terms time-charter deals with Japanese Owners stand at 17 vessels, out of Supramax, Kamsarmax and Post-Panamax (out of which 3 vessels will be designed and built by Sanoyas).

“Cielo d’Italia” will be employed by d’Amico Dry on a short period time charter until the delivery of its “sister” ship, expected in the first quarter of 2016.

image credit: lifeinitaly.com

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