STX Turku shipyard names versatile deck cargo vessel

JUNE 12, 2012 — STX Finland’s Turku shipyard has held the naming ceremony for a multipurpose deck cargo vessel set for delivery this summer to the Gaiamare Ltd. subsidiary of the Meriaura Group. Godmother of the vessel, Minister of Transport Merja Kyllönen, gave the  105. 4 m x 18.m ship the name Meri.

MS Meri, a modern and environmentally friendly deck cargo vessel, is designed for global operation and a wide variety of tasks. When delivered, she will be able to operate as a transport vessel for demanding project cargo such as offshore wind farm structures and for energy wood transport in the Baltic Sea area. The ship which has ice class 1A is the first dry cargo vessel in the Baltic Sea built according to the Aker Arctic DASTM design which enables the vessel to operate efficiently astern in ice. The main engines of the vessel can use environmentally friendly bio fuel. The vessel is also capable of operating in oil spill response activities.
 
“We are very proud to have been given this opportunity to build the innovative and environmentally-friendly ship, MS Meri, in a shipyard located in Turku for a shipowner operating in Turku. This continues the excellent cooperation of several years with Meriaura Group, says Jari Anttila, EVP & COO of STX Finland Oy and Director of STX Turku Shipyard.
 
“The vessel represents the next generation of ships especially in terms of fuel, versatile functions, environmental friendliness, and energy efficiency,” said Jussi Mälkiä, Chairman of the Board of Meriaura Ltd.