DFDS Continues Fleet Renewal Project with Order for Two Bunker-Saving Ro-Ro Ships

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday October 4, 2016

DFDS says it has finalised the order of two bunker-saving Ro-Ro newbuildings as part of its ongoing fleet renewal project intended to increase the company's operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

"The ships represent a new generation of environmentally friendly ro-ro ships as they comply with the latest environmental rules of the new IMO-standard EEDI (Energy Efficency Design Index)," explained DFDS, noting that the orders also include a number of energy efficiency initiatives, exhaust gas scrubbers, and ballast water treatment systems.

Designed to carry 6,700 lane metres of freight, the vessels' large size will "significantly" reduce unit costs and environmental impact per transported unit, says DFDS.

The newbuildings, which will be built at China's Jinling Shipyard and are expected to be delivered in the beginning of 2019, will be deployed on DFDS' North Sea route network.

The two new ships are said to represent an investment of approximately DKK 1 billion ($150 million), which will be paid by delivery, with more than half of the payment incurred on delivery - although it is noted that DFDS' total investments are still expected to amount to around DKK 1 billion ($150 million) in 2016.

In June, Ship & Bunker reported that DFDS' Ro-Ro vessel Finlandia Seaways had received the installation of an open-loop scrubber from Marine Exhaust Technology A/S (Marine Exhaust Technology)