---

Schulte Group's new containership, the 5,400-TEU Carl Schulte, is already bettering international environmental standards. Along with its two sister vessels - MV Christa Schulte and MV Clemens Schulte - the boxship is fitted with several eco-friendly features.

Owner Bernhard Schulte, together with Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), have incorporated a both a modern hull design and a fuel-efficient engine.

Bernhard Schulte worked with DNV GL, the international certification body and classification society, during the design stage to ensure that their vision and goals for the ship were fully met. Sophisticated software was installed to optimise voyage planning and to measure the carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur oxde (SOx) and Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The three sister vessels have a state-of-the-art ballast water treatment plant and a class-approved emergency response system to deal with any untoward environmental incidents. As a result, DNV GL issued a 'Green Passport' to all three of them.

Prakhar Singh Chandel, Fleet Manager - Energy Optimisation for BSM, explained that the construction and operation of such a vessel is in alignment with the Group's commitment to preserving and respecting the environment. "We have installed new hardware and software solutions, carried out intensive crew training and introduced new environmental processes and procedures to ensure that the highest environmental standards are maintained at all times," he said.

Carl Schulte's operating results place it in the top 2 percent of containerships of its size and type. The vessel has been graded by RightShip - the maritime vessel vetting specialist - as A+ on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions scale, and has been given a five-star Environmental Score rating, placing it in the top 20 of the 76,000 ships graded by Rightship.

As a result of the performance ratings, the vessel attracts significant discounts from ports that place environmental protection at the centre of their operations.

Port Metro Vancouver and Prince Rupert Port Authority - two groundbreaking ports in the area of environmental sustainability - were recently visited by the Carl Schulte where the vessel enjoyed noteworthy economic allowances.

Port Metro Vancouver's EcoAction programme recognises vessels that go beyond pre-set requirements to reduce their air emissions and rewards them with a discount of up to 47 percent in harbour dues.

In the Port of Prince Rupert, the Green Wave Program offers three levels of discount on harbour dues to those vessels that have a lower environmental footprint. Vessels are rewarded for using fuel with a lower-than-required sulphur content, or through a suite of environmental arrangements, including the Green Marine Programme, RightShip's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Rating and Environmental Score, Green Award certification, Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and the Clean Shipping Index.