Skangas to supply LNG to ESL Shipping’s newbuildings
ESL Shipping, part of Aspo Plc, and Skangas have entered into an agreement on providing gas fuel to ESL Shipping’s LNG-powered newbuildings, ESL Shipping says in a press release. As part of the agreement, Skangas will also deliver ESL Shipping with liquefied biogas (LBG). LBG and LNG are interchangeable as fuel and thus the same LNG supply chain is used. The vessels will start operating during the first half of 2018. The first of the two vessels was named Viikki in June 2017, honoring ESL Shipping’s tradition to name its ships after neighborhoods in Helsinki.
“Our new vessels are full of innovation, and they are pioneers in eco-friendliness and transportation efficiency,” says Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping. “This is a huge step towards even greener shipping. Our combination of latest hull design and numerous other energy saving measures together with usage of LNG as the fuel will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions per ton of cargo transported by more than 50 percent in comparison to present generation of vessels. This agreement also helps us to lower our operational costs,” he concludes.
“This agreement is a milestone for Skangas. Viikki will be the first vessel that we will serve from the new LNG-terminal in Tornio”, explains Kimmo Rahkamo, CEO of Skangas. “There will be more to come. The use of LNG in marine transport can deliver significant environmental, economic and social benefits.”
These new, ice-class 1A ships will be the first LNG-fuelled large bulk carriers in the world, representing the latest in technology and innovation and will carry out sea transports within the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. LNG marine fuel meets all current and planned environmental requirements. It also eliminates particles and significantly reduces CO2-emissions. LNG marine fuel is available and will remain economically efficient for the foreseeable future.
This newbuilding project is part of the Bothnia Bulk project, co-funded partly by the EU. Its objective is to modernize the sea route between Luleå, Oxelösund and Raahe to be eco-friendlier. These vessels have been designed in Finland, and European equipment suppliers account for roughly 60 percent of all vessel systems.
