HELSINKI: Meriaura Group, which is a Finnish logistics company has announced its plan to reduce its bunker consumption by almost half with two new build coastal dry cargo vessels.
The ships will feature advanced hull design and optimized machinery to achieve the bunker savings.
Dutch shipbuilder Royal Bowedes will construct the 4,700 deadweight ton vessels, with the first scheduled for delivery in July 2016.
The Ice Class 1A vessels will steam at 10.5 knots in open water, driven by a dual-fuel engine capable of running on bio fuel as well as marine gasoil (MGO).
Another group company VG-Shipping will produce the bio fuel at its Uusikaupunki refinery.
The new vessels are central to a program of fleet renewal for the company.
Reports have suggested the group plans to spend up to €30 million ($34.5 million) on new tonnage n the next two years.
“Our goal is that in five years’ time at least 50% of our fleet consists of fuel efficient and low emission EcoCoasters that are run by bio fuel produced of recycled oils,” said Jussi Mälkiä, President of Meriaura Group.
“Designing of larger EcoCoaster[s] is under process.”
