Containerships launches first LNG-fueled vessel

Finnish shipping company Containerships launched its first LNG-fueled container vessel, the Containerships Nord earlier this month at Wenchong Shipyard.

The shipbuilding work on the first vessel continues on an outfitting pier where interior, such as piping, cabling, smaller machinery and furnishings of the vessel will be installed.

The main engine factory acceptance was completed in September, and the LNG tanks have been accepted and are ready to be installed at the shipyard, the company said in a statement.

Launching of the first LNG-fuelled vessel was followed by the keel laying for the second vessel, which is now being built on the slipway, the company said.

The block production for the second vessel is nearly completed and 148 blocks have been accepted. The main engine testing is planned for the end of November.

All four Containerships’ new-built LNG-fuelled vessels are in production. Steel cutting of the third vessel commenced in May and steel cutting of the fourth vessel in September.

In 2018, Containerships will have the total of four new LNG-fueled vessels in operation in the Baltics and the North Sea.

The first vessel is expected to start sailing during the first half of 2018 depending on the completion of sea trials.