Two Norwegian shippers are set to launch the world’s first commercial tender for shipping companies and shipyards to build and own zero-emission bulker newbuildings operated under long-term freight contracts.

The tender, to be opened on Friday, has emerged from Norway’s Green Shipping Programme (GSP) and is an attempt to progress green technology into the commercial markets.

It has the support of minister of climate and the environment Sveinung Rotevatn who is backing the project as part of the government's Green Action Plan to dramatically reduce the country’s carbon emissions.