In Finland on May 27, ESL Shipping signed a €70 million loan agreement with Svenska Skeppshypotek to help finance four new 17,000 DWT methanol-powered cargo vessels, which will be delivered between the third quarter of 2027 and the first half of 2028; the total project investment is approximately €186 million.
The ships are being built at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing and are designed for operation using fossil-free green methanol. Each vessel will have an operating range of up to 10,000 nautical miles and will feature hybrid battery systems to reduce emissions during port operations and cargo handling. Shore power connections will allow for full electric operation where available.
Intended primarily for service in the Baltic Sea, the vessels are also capable of navigating the Great Lakes. They are Ice Class 1A rated, enabling them to operate year-round in challenging northern conditions. Environmental systems onboard will prevent the discharge of wastewater at sea and include ballast water treatment certified by the U.S. Coast Guard.
“These new vessels will be at the forefront of the net-zero emission race,” said Arne Juell-Skielse, CEO of Svenska Skeppshypotek. Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL, described the financing partnership as “highly valuable.”
More on the story.
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
