Finnish shipping company Containerships said the construction of its LNG-fueled containerships s progressing at the Chinese Wenchong Shipyard, Guangzhou.
For the first vessel, two double bottom blocks are already under erection on the slipway. In addition, six blocks have been painted and over 80 blocks are accepted. Over 60 blocks for the first vessel are under construction, the company said.
Two blocks of the second vessel have been accepted, and almost 50 are under construction, while steel cutting of the third vessel also started in May 2017.
Containerships said that only the exterior of its vessels will be built on the slipway before they are launched.
After the launch, shipbuilding will continue in an outfitting pier where interior such as piping, cabling, smaller machinery, furnishings of the vessel will be installed, painted and tested first at the pier and eventually at a sea trial just weeks before final delivery.
Launching of the first vessel is scheduled for September, followed by the keel laying of the second vessel on the same slipway.
Containerships is building a total of four LNG fuelled container vessels, all scheduled to enter operations in 2018. The Company invests over EUR 150 million to build a logistics chain entirely based on LNG.
The company is investing over €150 million ($167.5 million) to build a logistics chain entirely based on LNG. Containerships secured funding of €16.9 million from European Union, as well as an additional €5 million from the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO).
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