EMEA News
Finland's Meriaura Aims to Cut Fuel Consumption By Almost 50%
Finnish logistics company Meriaura Group has announced it aims to reduce bunker consumption by almost half with two newbuild coastal dry cargo vessels.
The ships will feature advanced hull design and optimised machinery to achieve the bunker savings.
Dutch shipbuilder Royal Bowedes will construct the 4,700 deadweight tonne 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 biofuel as well as marine gasoil (MGO).
Another group company VG-Shipping will produce the biofuel at its Uusikaupunki refinery.
The new vessels are central to a programme of fleet renewal for the company.
Reports have suggested the group plans to spend up to €30 million ($34.5 million) on new tonneage in 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 biofuel produced of recycled oils,” said Jussi Mälkiä, President of Meriaura Group.
“Designing of larger EcoCoaster[s] is under process.”
Earlier this week, Denmark’s Copenship, which operated a fleet of smaller sized dry cargo ships, filed for bankruptcy saying it had found itself in an “extremely bad” market.
