The Jiangsu Zhenjiang shipyard has been entrusted with constructing the 120-by-21.6-metre, 6,800-deadweight (dwt), 1A Ice Class, DP2 vessel, scheduled for delivery by the beginning of 2028.
Designed in co-op with Deltamarin, with the ship designers also tasked with carrying out the basic design, the newbuild will be optimised for transporting project cargo as well as other special shipments.
"The ship will be equipped with three main engines, two of which will be manufactured in Finland. These engines are medium-speed, 4-stroke marine engines designed for easy upgrades to operate on future low- or zero-carbon fuels [including the biofuel made by Meriaura]," the shipping company from Turku highlighted in a press release.
The carrier will also be battery-ready "[...] via a plug-and-play setup."
"Meriaura's open deck carriers are market leaders in several heavy cargo segments in Northern Europe, but there is still significant untapped potential in regional short-sea shipping activities. The newbuilding both complements the existing fleet and increases the business opportunities in present core segments due to improved capacity and capabilities," Jessica Saari, Meriaura's Business Development Director, said.
The company's CEO, Beppe Rosin, added, "This order is a remarkable milestone in our ongoing fleet renewal program and marks our commitment to both our segments. An ice-classed, Finland-flagged, open-deck carrier is also a valuable asset for ensuring Finland's security of supply. With a slightly bigger vessel size, as with the Eco Traders [105-m-long, 6,750-dwt] currently being built, we want to respond to customers' needs even better, with greater flexibility and across a wider area."
Janne Uotila, CEO of Deltamarin, also shared, "We are pleased to continue our involvement in this project, which supports Meriaura's fleet renewal programme and introduces a new shipyard client for Deltamarin. The vessel's decarbonisation solutions are fully aligned with our strategic commitment to sustainability."
Photo: Meriaura/Deltamarin