Finnlines invests in ultra-clean vessels – five new environmentally friendly vessels
During the past decade, Finnlines has made a whole series of concrete investments totalling EUR 1 billion, including actions to promote environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. These actions include the renewal of the fleet with larger vessels, emission abatement system installations on 21 ships, fleet changes and route optimisation, fuel monitoring and slow steaming, silicone anti-fouling treatments, propulsion improvement and vessel lengthening investments. All investments were aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions per transported tonne.
In 2018, Finnlines completed its EUR 70 million programme under which six ro-ro vessels were lengthened, and the achieved 30% capacity increase will reduce energy consumption per transported unit compared to the original vessel.
Three ultra-clean ro-ro vessels
Finnlines continues to invest in increasing its vessel capacity and has ordered three ro-ro vessels from the Chinese Jinling shipyard. Their delivery is expected from 2021–2022. These new technology vessels are 238 metres long and will each have a cargo capacity of 5,800 lane metres. The vessels will be a new kind of hybrid ro-ro vessels – they will use fossil fuel during sailing but only electricity restored in lithium-ion battery bank while in port, and hence guaranteeing ‘zero emissions in port’. In addition, an innovative air lubrication system under the keel will create bubble layers which will reduce friction and hydrodynamic resistance and, consequently, reduce fuel consumption and emissions as well. Optimised energy efficiency is ensured with the hull lines and propellers, including the most advanced integrated propeller-rudder systems.
Two Superstar ro-pax vessels
Furthermore, Finnlines is working on developing a new Superstar ro-pax class concept. These vessels will also be equipped with emission abatement and other advanced fuel consumption and emission reduction systems. Also, alternative fuels are considered. The company aims towards increased energy efficiency and reduced emissions. The deliveries of these vessels are likely to take place in 2021–2022.
“We continue to modernize our fleet further. These investments will also help us to meet increased demand and enable us to serve our customers better. These green ro-ro vessels will be built taking all technological and environmental factors into account and thus will increase our energy efficiency further. These vessels will offer us the lowest possible fuel consumption and exhaust emissions and again, is in line with our investments in sustainable development. We are proud that these exceptional technologies on board will make the vessels the most innovative and efficient vessels in the world”, says Emanuele Grimaldi, CEO of Finnlines.
Finnlines Plc
Finnlines is a leading shipping operator of ro-ro and passenger services in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and Bay of Biscay. The Company is a part of the Grimaldi Group, one of the world’s largest operators of ro-ro vessels and the largest operator of the Motorways of the Sea in Europe for both passengers and freight. This affiliation enables Finnlines to offer liner services to and from any destination in the Mediterranean, West Africa as well as the Atlantic coast of both North and South America.
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