Finland-based shipowner Meriaura inked a shipbuilding contract for an open deck carrier with the Jiangsu Zhenjiang shipyard (Group).
The ordered 6800-dwt open deck carrier is due for delivery in early 2028. The new 1A ice classed DP2 ship will measure 120 meters in length and will be 21,6m wide.
The vessel concept, based on the two preceding open deck carriers developed by Meriaura, has been designed together with Deltamarin Finland.
Deltamarin will also carry out the basic design of the vessel for the shipyard.
The ship will be fitted with three main engines, two of which will be manufactured in Finland. These engines are medium-speed 4-stroke marine engines designed for easy upgrades to operate on future low or zero carbon fuels, the company said.
The new vessel will primarily operate in the short sea shipping market, consistent with the rest of the company’s fleet.
The ordered vessel is optimized for heavy project and special cargo, with a specific design focus on demanding Ro-Ro operations, the company explained, adding that the vessel is well-suited for various project requirements all year round due to its dynamic positioning, large deck area and technical/operational performance. It also provides access to challenging locations with shallow drafts, poor infrastructure, or limited space.
On the environmental side, the vessel will feature multi-fuel engines, with Meriaura’s own biofuel being part of the fuel mix.
Furthermore, the vessel will feature battery readiness via a plug-and-play setup.
“The newbuilding both complements the existing fleet and increases the business opportunities in present core segments due to improved capacity and capabilities,” said Meriaura’s business development director Jessica Saari.
“An ice‑classed, Finland‑flagged open deck carrier is also a valuable asset for ensuring Finland’s security of supply. With a slightly bigger vessel size, as with the Eco Traders currently being built, we want to respond to customers’ needs even better, with greater flexibility and across a wider area,” added Beppe Rosin, chief executive officer of Meriaura.
