Finnish carrier orders two more LNG-powered boxships

Containerships will add two more dual-fuel engine-technology container vessels to its short-sea fleet.    The Finnish carrier Containerships has ordered two additional new dual-fuel engine-technology container vessels.
   The order comes in addition to one made earlier this year by the carrier for two similar vessels. Containerships said it will be the first short-sea container operator in Europe to run ships on liquefied natural gas. 
   “Our new ships will not just meet, but exceed, all environmental standards in the Sulphur Emission Control Area,” said Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, chief executive officer of Containerships, in a statement. 
   The additional two ships will be delivered during 2017. Containerships will receive the earlier announced two vessels on order in 2016. All four ships will use LNG, but will also be able to burn conventional marine diesel oil/heavy fuel. The ships will be built in China.
   Each ship will accommodate up to 639 units of 45-foot containers and have a total capacity of 1,400 TEU. They will also be able to accommodate up to 300 refrigerated containers. 
   Containerships’ investments for land and sea operations to build and support the new vessels will be more than 300 million euros ($380 million), the company said. 
   Containerships will be chartering the ships over the long term, with the owner and technical manager being GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg. Arkon will serve as the commercial manager and charter broker.