The Finnish shipping line has entrusted China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) with constructing four hybrid, multi-fuel vessels in an €186 million investment that also includes an option for more newbuilds.

The 17,000-tonne-deadweight, 150 by 23.77 metres, 1A Ice Class freighters will enter traffic between Q3 2027 and Q1 2028.

The ships will have the possibility to run on hydrogen-based e-methanol or biomethanol.

"The design of the vessels and comprehensive model tests have been carried out together with the leading Finnish ship designer Deltamarin and the Swedish SSPA model test facility. ESL Shipping has been closely involved in the design of the vessels to ensure that they are fully tailored to meet local customer needs. The majority of key equipment, such as powertrain including battery hybrid drive, cargo handling equipment, and many other leading technologies come from European companies," ESL Shipping underlined in a press brief.

The company's Managing Director, Mikki Koskinen, added, "Our strategy is based on sustainability leadership and our unique ability to develop and provide a reliable infrastructure for the ice-bound Nordic green transition industries. We have developed these state-of-the-art, highly flexible multi-fuel vessels in close cooperation with our industrial partners."

Photo: ESL Shipping