Chinese shipyard launches first hybrid ferry for Finnlines
The Finneco I ferry was launched at the Nanjing Jinling Shipyard. It is the first of three hybrid ro-ro vessels ordered by Finnlines, a major shortsea operator on the Baltic Sea. The ferry will debut on the regular connections by the year’s end.
Finnlines, the Finnish ferry company, has achieved a new turning point in its Newbuilding Programme, which is worth 500 million euros and is dedicated to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions. On Monday, 26 April, the launching ceremony of a hybrid ro-ro vessel, Finneco I, took place at the Nanjing Jinling Shipyard in China. The eco-sustainable ferry is expected to start its operations on the Biscay – North Sea – Baltic Sea line. Two more ferries of the same type (Finneco II and Finneco III) will be built in 2022.
“These new vessels will increase our cargo and passenger capacity significantly. Together with our connections, we can meet the needs of our customers better. Our eco-sustainable new vessels will serve our customers, and communities where we operate, long into the future. More than ever, our economies rely on dependable transport links and we are committed to ensuring vital sea freight operations sustainably,” said Emanuele Grimaldi, CEO of Finnlines.
Technical features
Each ferry of Finneco type has a length of 238 metres, a width of 34 metres and a deadweight of 17,400 tonnes. Its car desks have a capacity, which is enough to transport freight of 5,800 square metres. Meanwhile, the weather desks were designed primarily for carrying a container volume of 520 TEU per sailing. The total vessel capacity includes around 300 semi-trailers, 150 cars and 500 sea containers per voyage. As a result, the Finneco ferries can transport by 38 per cent more freight than the company’s current largest ro-ro vessel of the Breeze series.
Finnlines new ultra-green vessels will provide several energy-saving solutions for a greener future. Lithium-ion battery systems will allow zero-emission port visits. Moreover, modern two-stroke engines, emission abatement systems, solar panels and an innovative air lubrication system will also contribute to decarbonisation. The new ro-ro vessels are a part of Finnlines’ ongoing 500-million-euro Newbuilding Programme, which, besides three Finneco ro-ro vessels, consists of two Superstar ro-pax hybrid ships. The latter type of ferries will be inaugurated on the network of the Finnish ferry operator in 2023.