China's Wuhu Shipyard has clinched a deal to build four LNG-fuelled general cargoships for Dutch owner Wijnne Barends.
The vessels are due in 2021 and will be powered by Wartsila technology.
The 5,800-dwt lift-on, lift-off (lolo) units will operate in the Baltic and North Seas and will be Finnish/Swedish Ice Class 1A classified.
No price has been revealed for the vessels.
UPM charters arranged
Last summer it was reported that Finland's UPM had chartered seven LNG-powered ships from Wijnne Barends and another Spliethoff-controlled company, Bore.
Wijnne Barends' quartet was said to have been booked at an unnamed Chinese yard.
"The ships will be among the first-ever of their type to be powered by LNG fuel," Wartsila said.
Because of space restrictions on short-sea cargo ships, Wartsila has developed a solution in close cooperation with the naval architect and the owners that allows the Wartsila LNGPac storage and supply system to be installed below deck without compromising the cargo hold space.
“We are very pleased to have these next-generation sustainable vessels. Minimising our environmental footprint has long been a focal point for us, and the reduction of emissions is a fundamental part of this," said Ad Toonen, technical director of Wijnne Barends.
The four ships will each have a Wartsila 34DF dual-fuel main engine.
The equipment will be delivered to the yard during the fourth quarter of 2020, and the first vessel is expected to be delivered during autumn 2021.
Six 4,200-dwt cargoships already on order for the owner at Chowgule Shipyard in India are also being fitted with Wartsila main engines and CPP propellers.
