Containerships Oy adds two more LNG fueled newbuilds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 — Helsinki, Finland, headquartered Containerships Ltd Oy says it is considering “as acquiring … as our own assets” a series of four 1,400 TEU dual fuel containerships that it is to operate on long term charter.

They are being built for GNS Shipping GmbH & Co KG and managed by Nordic Hamburg. Arkon Shipping will be the commercial manager and the charter broker.

Earlier this month, Containerships announced the order for two vessels, set for 2016 delivery from China’s Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding. Today it said that an additional two new ships will be delivered during 2017.

CEO of Containerships, Kari-Pekka Laaksonen said that owning the vessels itself “would of course mean new big investments and also new career opportunities for Finnish professionals.”

In addition to the new ships Containerships is planning to invest in an LNG-powered truck fleet in Finland, Russia and the U.K.

“It is important to emphasize that in order to meet future regulations, most competitors on the market will use alternative solutions, such as marine gas oil with decreased sulfur content,” says Mr. Laaksonen. “These options do not require the same level of investment as the solution Containerships has chosen. Our strategy is to stay well ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental regulations, and to be a pioneer in eco-friendly shipping while continuing to offer customers the best value for money

The total value of Containerships’ investments for land and sea operations will be approximately 250-300 million euros.

“This is a huge leap for a family owned company,” said Mr. Laaksonen. “Instead of calling the new environmental regulation an obligation, we see it as a big opportunity for sustainable growth. Our aim is to double both our volume and turnover within 5 – 6 years.”

In addition to the 7-cylinder Wärtsilä RT-flex50DF dual-fuel two-stroke main engines —the first to be installed in a containership — the new ships include many other innovative features: they will offer the highest flexibility for 45-foot units among containerships operating in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Each ship will accommodate up to 639 units of 45-foot containers and have a total capacity of 1,400 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). They will also be able to accommodate up to 300 refrigerated containers. Other technical innovations include hull, propeller and rudder optimization and generators using dual-fuel technology, allowing an eco-friendly way to generate electricity while staying at port.