Knud E. Hansen has signed a contract with Nanjing Jinling Shipyard for developing the basic design of three large Ro-Ro vessels for Finnlines.
The vessels are based on the same hull as a series of Ro-Ros being built for Grimaldi Lines and are thus sister vessels but customised to meet the needs of Finnlines with regard to heavy cargo and operation in cold climates.
The vessels, which are expected to be delivered from 2021, will each have a length of 238 metres, a beam of 34 metres, and Finnish/Swedish ice class 1A Super notation. The design is aimed to be flexible for all types of Ro-Ro cargo with a capacity of 5,800 lane metres and more than 5,000 square metres of vehicle decks.
The vessels will use electricity in port, courtesy of large lithium batteries. The batteries will be recharged during navigation, through shaft generators employing a peak shaving system.
Additionally, an air lubrication system will be installed to reduce hull resistance using a thin layer of bubbles below the keel.
