Containerships to Pioneer LNG Shortsea Shipping in Europe

Finnish cargo shipping company Containerships has ordered two additional dual-fuel engine container ships from Yangzhou Guoyu Shipyard in China. The Finnish end-to-end cargo operator announced earlier this year an order of two similar vessels. The company says it will be the first shortsea container operator in Europe to run ships on LNG.

“Our new ships will not just meet, but exceed all environmental standards in the Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) where we operate. On top of this, with the gas mode, the engines are Tier III compliant with the upcoming IMO emission regulations for SECA areas also regarding NOx. In addition to the new ships we are also planning to invest in an LNG-powered truck fleet in Finland, Russia and the UK to offer the most sustainable logistics solution from door to door,” said the CEO of Containerships, Kari-Pekka Laaksonen.

The additional two new ships will be delivered during 2017. Containerships will receive the already announced two vessels in 2016. All four ships will use liquefied natural gas (LNG), but will also be able to burn conventional marine diesel oil/heavy fuel.

The total value of Containerships’ investments for land and sea operations will be approximately EUR 250 to 300 million ( USD 318 to 382m)

Containerships will be chartering the ships over the long term; the owner and technical manager will be GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg, while Arkon will be the commercial manager and the charter broker. The ships will be built in China. The main engines will be delivered by Wärtsilä.

“In addition to the option of chartering, we are also considering acquiring the new vessels as our own assets. This would of course mean new big investments and also new career opportunities for Finnish professionals,” said Laaksonen.