Meriaura orders multipurpose deck cargo vessel

Gaiamare Ltd of the Meriaura group of companies and STX Finland Oy have signed a contract for the construction of a versatile multipurpose deck cargo vessel at the Turku shipyard, Shipgaz reports. The 105 metres long and 19 metres wide vessel will have a cargo capacity of 5,000 tons on deck. The vessel is designed for transportation of demanding project cargo, such as offshore wind farm structures. Environmental issues are of high priority. The diesel electric machinery is designed to operate on alternative bio-oils. Designed as a Double Acting Ship with technology from Aker Arctic, the vessel will move stern first in difficult ice conditions. The newbuilding is also designed to operate as an oil spill response vessel. In the hull there are tanks with a volume of 2,700 cubic metres. Equipped with a DP system, the manoeuvrability is excellent due to two electric rudder propellers and two bow thrusters. The ship will be delivered during spring 2012