Finnish Cargo Company to be the First LNG Shortsea Container Operator

HELSINKI, September 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Containerships has ordered two additional new, state-of-the-art, dual-fuel engine-technology container ships. The fast-growing Finnish end-to-end cargo operator announced earlier this year an order of two similar vessels. Containerships 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)^[i] 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," notes 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.

Containerships' new ships include many innovative features: they will offer the highest flexibility for 45-foot units among container ships operating in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Each ship will accommodate up to 639 units of 45-foot containers and have a total capacity of 1,400 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). They will also be able to accommodate up to 300 refrigerated containers. Other technical innovations include hull, propeller and rudder optimization and generators using dual-fuel technology allowing an eco-friendly way to generate electricity while staying at port.

"It is important to emphasise that in order to meet future regulations, most competitors on the market will use alternative solutions, such as marine gas oil with decreased sulphur content. These options do not require the same level of investment as the solution Containerships has chosen. Our strategy is to stay well ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental regulations, and to be a pioneer in eco-friendly shipping while continuing to offer customers the best value for money," says Mr. Laaksonen.

The total value of Containerships' investments for land and sea operations will be approximately 250-300 M euros.

"This is a huge leap for a family owned company. Instead of calling the new environmental regulation an obligation, we see it as a big opportunity for sustainable growth. Our aim is to double both our volume and turnover within 5 - 6 years," reveals Mr. Laaksonen.

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," states Mr. Laaksonen.

Containerships is a family owned logistics company headquartered in Helsinki with over 45 years of history and experience in logistics services. It ensures safe, sustainable and rapid container shipping services between Finland, Russia, the Baltic States, and west Europe, as well as between Turkey and North Africa using sea, road, rail and river-barge transport modes.

^[i] SECA (Sulphur Emission Controlled Area) is the area on which environmental regulation set by IMO will come into force on 1st of January 2015. Vessel operators must find an energy source that contains no more than 0,1% Sulphur compared to the current 1%.

For more information please contact:
Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, CEO of Containerships
tel. +358(0)207-441-441 | fax +358-9-407-107
e-mail kari-pekka.laaksonen@containerships.fi, http://www.containershipsgroup.com