Finland's Meriaura is on the hunt for more ships after chartering in its biggest cargo vessel.
It has signed a long-term deal with Aalto Shipping Company to bring in the 8,700-dwt Airisto (built 2000), formerly Ara Amsterdam.
Start-up Aalto said it had acquired the vessel after buying two bulkers earlier this year to begin operations. The seller was Ara Ship Management of the Netherlands.
Because of the large capacity, the vessel is suitable for large volume bulk cargoes, such as various biofuels, wood and sawn timber, the company said.
The two separate cargo holds and partial tween-decks allow transport of part cargoes and project cargoes, it added.
"With this vessel type we respond to customer needs and to changing material flows in the Baltic Sea," said Beppe Rosin, vice managing director of Meriaura.
"Carrying products of bio and circular economy has always been part of the core business of our company. Now we are able to carry larger cargo quantities.”
It aims to have a mix of owned ships and term charters.
“Expanding our fleet is a clear target. We are continuously looking for potential candidates for purchase or time charter, also in the size of Airisto” Rosin added.
Its dry cargo tonnage now stands at 15 vessels of a combined 69,000 dwt.
In addition, the group owns and operates two deck carriers and one ro-ro-vessel.
