Finnlines continues to invest in increasing its vessel capacity and has signed an order for three ro-ro vessels from the Chinese Jinling shipyard. The vessels delivery is expected as from 2020-2021, the company said in its press release.
The total investment will be over EUR 200 million.
The vessels are 238 metres long and will have a cargo capacity of 5,800 lane metres plus 5,600m2 of car decks and a capacity of abt 300 TEU on weather deck. The vessels are designed to be flexible for all type of ro-ro cargo whilst tank top and main deck are shaped with strengthened bulkheads and free of pillar areas to accommodate paper and sto-ro concept. The vessel has also an increased DWT of 17,400 tons.
The vessel will have the highest Finnish / Swedish ice class.
The design has been done in cooperation with Nordic marine designer Knud E. Hansen and with the high level of technological innovation these new green ro-ro vessels will be among the most modern and environmentally friendly vessels in the Baltic. The vessels will be equipped with the latest generation of engines that ensure the lowest fuel consumption and lowest CO2 emissions, and they will be fitted with scrubbers to abate the Sulphur and other particulate matters.
These new green ro-ro vessels will be a new kind of hybrid ro-ro vessels, which will use fossil fuel during sailing and electricity while in port and hence guaranteeing “zero emissions in port”. In fact, the vessels will have a lithium-ion battery bank, which will be recharged during sailing and will provide the electricity to the ship while at berth but there will be no emissions during the port stay.
An innovative air lubrication system under the keel will create the bubble layers which will reduce friction and hydrodynamic resistance and consequently reduce fuel consumption and emissions as well. Optimised energy efficiency is ensured with the hull lines and propellers including the most advanced integrated propeller-rudder system.
“We continue to modernize our fleet further. This investment will also help us to meet increased demand and enable us to serve our customers better. These green ro-ro vessels will be built taking all technological and environmental factors into account and thus will increase our energy efficiency further. These vessels will offer us the lowest possible fuel consumption and exhaust emissions and again, is in line with our investments in sustainable development. We are proud that these exceptional technologies on board will make the vessels the most innovative and efficient vessels in the world”, says Emanuele Grimaldi, CEO of Finnlines.
Finnlines is a leading shipping operator of ro-ro and passenger services in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and Bay of Biscay. The Company is a part of the Grimaldi Group, one of the world’s largest operators of ro-ro vessels and the largest operator of the Motorways of the Sea in Europe for both passengers and freight. This affiliation enables Finnlines to offer liner services to and from any destination in the Mediterranean, West Africa as well as the Atlantic coast of both North and South America.