China's Jinling Supplies LNG-Fuelled Carrier to ESL Shipping

Chinese Jinling Shipyard has delivered an LNG-fuelled bulk carrier Haaga to ESL Shipping, a part of Finland’s Aspo Group.

The 160-meter, 25,600 DWT, LNG-fuelled vessel generates less than 50% of the carbon dioxide emissions of the previous generation of vessels, Aspo said August 20, adding that the vessel can also be fuelled by completely carbon-free biogas, once the availability of carbon-free biogas improves over time. The vessel will have raw material cargo while arriving from Japan to the Baltic Sea, where the vessel is currently scheduled to arrive in mid-September. 

"This investment of around €60mn is significant for a company of Aspo's size. It's also an excellent example of our responsible ownership, as environmental responsibility involves considering future generations, too. The design and construction of the new vessels were completed as planned. The vessels will considerably increase ESL Shipping's capacity, in addition to improving its profitability,” said Aki Ojanen, CEO of Aspo.

This new construction project is part of the Bothnia Bulk project, partly funded by the EU. Its goal is to modernise the sea route between Lulea, Oxelosund and Raahe to be more eco-friendly, Aspo said.