Wallenius, Wilhelmsen ordering largest ro/ro ships

Wallenius, Wilhelmsen ordering largest ro/ro ships Sweden’s Wallenius Lines (OW) and Norway’s Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA have ordered four ships from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries which they say will be the world’s largest roll-on/roll-off carriers.
   The vessels will be built in Japan at Nagasaki yard for delivery in 2011 and 2012.
   The new ro/ro carriers will have cargo volume of 138,000 cubic meters, close to 10 percent more than their most recent ro/ro carriers.
   The ships will be employed in their joint venture Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. They will be designed for efficient transportation and handling of high and heavy and non-containerized cargo as well as and cars.
   The two companies said environmental consideration is a focus in the design of the new ships, which will have hull lines designed to reduce fuel oil consumption and exhaust gas emissions. Exhaust gas energy will be recovered to generate all electrical needs at sea. An advanced ballast treatment system, to reduce harmful transfer of microorganisms between different ecosystems, will be included.
   The two companies said that in order to ensure new and modern tonnage they are pursuing an extensive newbuilding program that will lead to 43 vessels being delivered up to 2012.