STX Finland to build versatile deck cargo vessel

STX Finland Oy and Gaiamare Ltd. have signed a contract for the construction of an innovative and versatile multipurpose deck cargo vessel. The ship will be delivered during spring 2012 from STX Finland’s Turku shipyard and has a length of 105 m and a width of 19 m.

Gaiamare Ltd is part of the the Turku based Meriaura Group. Meriaura Ltd, founded in 1986, specializes in the transport of industrial products and project cargo on the Baltic Sea and in Europe.

The vessel is designed for transportation of demanding project cargo, such as offshore wind farm structures, and is also suitable for transporting energy wood in the Baltic Sea region. It will also have oil spill response capabilities.

The concept for the ship has been developed in close cooperation between STX Finland and Gaiamare. The vessel will have numerous innovations and very high specifications, including the ability to operate efficiently in tough ice conditions..

The vessel includes Double Acting Ship (DASTM) mode, developed together with Aker Arctic Technology. The Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A vessel will be the first DAS – dry cargo vessel in the Baltic Sea. The vessel will operate under Finnish flag.

The Double-Acting ship concept is that the vessel is designed to run ahead in open water and astern in heavy ice conditions. The actual bow form can be optimized for the selected route and the superior ice going performance when running astern reduces the need to use icebreaker assistance.

The Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A vessel will be the first DAS – dry cargo vessel in the Baltic Sea. The vessel will operate under Finnish flag.

The multipurpose deck cargo vessel is also designed to operate as an oil spill response vessel – both on the open sea and in the archipelago. Versatile oil spill response equipment can be installed on the ship.

The vessel has about 2,700 cu.m of tank capacity for recovered oil, which will significantly increase the storage capacity of current Finnish oil spill response fleet.

The diesel electric propulsion supports the operational flexibility of the ship, while being energy efficient and low carbon. The vessel is designed to use alternative bio-oils as fuel. The ship is course stable at very low speed which enables efficient collecting of oil. Due to two electric rudder propellers and two bow thrusters, the ship can also run sideways in open water, enabling even more efficient oil recovering.

“This order is important for STX Turku shipyard. The contract proofs that we are competitive also on the area of high technology and specialized multipurpose vessels”, says Jari Anttila, director of STX Turku shipyard. “Designing of the ship will start immediately and the construction will begin in late summer. Following launch of this vessel from the building dock, the construction of the cruise ferry for Viking Line will immediately begin.”

March 23, 2011