BERG Introduces The World’s First GreenForge® Shafts To The Maritime Industry
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BERG Propulsion is making history by offering the shipping industry its first opportunity to select propeller shafts produced using the climate-neutral GreenForge® process.
As the maritime sector faces increasing carbon pricing, this breakthrough provides a sustainable alternative to conventional steel production.
Three new Ro-Ro vessels from Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA), set to enter service in 2026 for transatlantic transport of aircraft parts, are already designed for low-emission operations.
They will feature wind-assisted propulsion through rotor sails, alongside hybrid propulsion, power management, and control technology from BERG.
Additionally, BERG will supply these vessels with propeller shafts made from recycled scrap steel, manufactured using Björneborg Steel’s GreenForge® process.
This innovative approach relies on renewable electricity and replaces traditional propane with fossil-free biogas rDME or bio-propane.
The process has been independently verified to reduce CO2 emissions by 95% compared to standard methods, with the remaining emissions offset to ensure full climate neutrality.
Björneborg Steel estimates that manufacturing the six propeller shafts for LDA using GreenForge® will cut CO2 emissions by 160 tonnes compared to conventional production methods.
“BERG is delighted to work with Sweden’s cutting-edge steel industry and pioneer the use of maritime GreenForge®. ” said Kajsa de Mello, Operations Director, BERG Propulsion. “We are proud to be the first supplier in the world to offer customers propeller shafts using this process. It is fitting that the first sea-going application should be low emission ships.”
The world’s first climate-neutral propeller shaft for LDA is set for delivery from Björneborg Steel to the BERG facility in Hönö, Sweden, in March 2025, with five additional shafts arriving by the end of June.
The European Union’s ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ aims to boost European industries by promoting renewable energy, reducing barriers to clean technology investment, and providing financial incentives to cut carbon emissions.
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