Keel Laying Ceremony Marks Major Milestone for First 5600dwt GADUS Series Dry Cargo Vessel Built by Thecla Bodewes Shipyards for Navigare Shipping.

28/02/2025

Thecla Bodewes Shipyards proudly announces the successful keel laying ceremony of Hav Leiti, the first vessel in the new GADUS series of 5600dwt dry cargo vessels. This festive even marks a significant milestone in the production of this state-of-the-art vessel.

The Hav Leiti is the first of four highly efficient and sustainable cargo ships designed in close cooperation between Navigare Shipping and Thecla Bodewes Shipyards in the Netherlands. The series has been commissioned by Navigare Shipping, a leading shipping company based in the Faroe Islands. These modern vessels are designed to meet the highest standards of efficiency, durability, and environmental sustainability, while being ready for future alternative powersources, reflecting the shared commitment of both Thecla Bodewes Shipyards and Navigare Shipping to the future of maritime transport. As both companies are family-owned businesses, this partnership is built on a strong foundation of mutual trust and shared values, further strengthening their collaboration.
“The keel laying of Hav Leiti represents the start of a new era in sustainable cargo shipping,” said Thecla Bodewes, CEO at Thecla Bodewes Shipyards. “This vessel series is a reflection to our dedication to innovation, reliability, and efficiency in shipbuilding. We are honored to collaborate with Navigare Shipping to deliver vessels that set new industry standards.”

With a deadweight tonnage of 5600dwt, the GADUS series is designed to optimize fuel efficiency while ensuring maximum cargo capacity and operational versatility. The vessels incorporate the latest advancements in shipbuilding technology to enhance sustainability and performance in global shipping operations. The Hav Leiti is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system comprising four generator sets and a fixed-pitch propeller in a nozzle, ensuring minimal fuel consumption and reduced emissions, while delivering excellent manoeuvrability.

Additionally, the vessel is compliant with IMO Tier-3 regulations and is equipped with a sewage treatment plant for environmentally responsible sailing in the Baltic area.
Further sustainability measures include a shore transformer system, allowing for emission-free discharging while in port, and an electric self-discharger on a wagon, enhancing cargo handling efficiency. The vessel also boasts a very high cubic cargo hold, making it ideal for various cargo types.

The entire vessel has been in-house engineered by Thecla Bodewes Shipyards and is equipped with an advanced automation system, ensuring optimal performance, safety, and reliability throughout operations.

Álvur Højgaard, CEO from Navigare added: “We are delighted to witness the keel laying of Hav Leiti, a vessel that embodies our vision of modern and environmentally responsible maritime logistics. This marks the beginning of an exciting journey, and we look forward to seeing Hav Leiti and her sister ships take to the seas.”

The construction of Hav Leiti will continue in the coming months And the delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for spring 2026, followed by the completion of the remaining ships in the series.
The festive keel laying ceremony was attended by the owners of Navigare Shipping and the management of Thecla Bodewes Shipyards, marking an important stage in the construction of Hav Leiti. In keeping with good maritime tradition, a special coin was welded onto the keel, symbolizing good fortune and safe voyages for the vessel and its crew.

This milestone event underscores the strong collaboration between European maritime stakeholders in advancing the next generation of cargo shipping.

Navigare Shipping
Navigare Shipping was founded by the Højgaard family in 1966 with a single dredger vessel named Pilot. Initially specializing in dredger vessels, the company gradually shifted its focus to general cargo ships. In recent years, Navigare has experienced significant growth and now owns a fleet of 13 vessels, while currently operating an additional three across Northern Europe. With a workforce of approximately 200 employees, the company has its head office in Søldarfjørður, Faroe Islands, an operational office in Norway, and logistics offices in Glasgow, Scotland and Reykjavík, Iceland.

Thecla Bodewes Shipyards
Thecla Bodewes Shipyards, headquartered in Kampen (The Netherlands), is a seventh-generation family business with a combined experience in shipbuilding spanning over three hundred years. The shipyard's focus is on supplying future-proof smart ships that strive for emission-free shipping using innovative sustainable solutions. With more than 200 newbuild vessels successfully delivered to satisfied customers, 25 of which are diesel-electric, LNG-electric and hydrogen-electric, and more than 15 years of experience with diesel-electric propulsion systems, the shipyard has a proven ability to deliver vessels to the highest standards. In addition to innovative multi-purpose short sea vessels, Thecla Bodewes Shipyards also builds shallow water tugs and pushers, modern dredgers and vessels for special purposes.