Fednav Limited announce contracts with Japanese shipbuilders Oshima Shipyard.
The environmentally advanced vessels will be built in Japan and are destined to become the flagships of Fednav's fleet of over 80 ships.
The six additional vessels will be delivered between 2015 and 2016, as part of a series of 21 new ships added to Fednav's fleet since January 1, 2012. Fednav has the largest fleet of ice-class vessels in the world—vessels capable of navigating demanding winter conditions along the St. Lawrence Seaway, in the Baltic Sea, and even in the Arctic.
Located near Nagasaki, Japan, Oshima Shipyard will build the 35,000-ton bulk carriers, which are specially equipped for navigating in ice. As highly flexible vessels well suited to international trade, their size is adapted to the dimensions of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The new vessels represent a major step forward in terms of environmental improvements. With their advanced design and more efficient engines, they will consume 20% less fuel and produce 20% less emissions than vessels built by Oshima Shipyard for Fednav 10 years ago, ships already among the most efficient of their time.
The fuel-efficient engines will also reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 20%. All of the vessels will receive the CLEAN-DESIGN notation from the DNV classification society.
"The environment is one of our top priorities when we consider the design of a new vessel," explained Paul Pathy, Fednav President and Co-CEO, upon signing of the contract.