Finnish shipping company Finnlines revealed plans to launch a new service from Finland to England that will be operated with three hybrid roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels.
The freight service is said to be part of the company’s strategy to improve service sustainability and route network.
It will link Finland with London Medway located in Sheerness, with further connections available to Belgium, Spain, and Ireland. The first arrival will take place on September 23, 2024.
Calling London Medway once a week, each of the three Finneco-class hybrid RoRo ships has a cargo capacity of 5,800 lane meters, equivalent to around 400 trailers. The ships will ensure lower CO2 emissions per transported cargo unit while operating on the new route.
To reduce emissions, the vessels are equipped with many advanced technologies such as SIlverstream’s air lubrication , Corvus’ high-powered battery bank and solar panels .
The three units — Finneco I , Finneco II and Finneco III — joined the Finnlines’ fleet in 2022. They were built in China as part of the company’s €500 million newbuilding program which also included two eco-friendly Superstar roll-on/roll-off passenger (RoPax) units.
“Finnlines continues to strengthen its services by increasing cargo capacity for the UK service. Furthermore, the launch of our new service from Sheerness secures an important trade route between England and the Continent, further solidifying our position in the market,” Merja Kallio-Mannila , Finnlines’ Commercial Director, commented.
London Medway is managed by the Peel Ports Group, a port operator and full-service logistics provider. The terminal is equipped to handle a wide range of cargo types, including automotive, steel, wood, forestry, and project cargo, as well as offering facilities for RoRo cargo.
In related news, Finnlines recently revealed it was mulling another investment program for green fuel-powered vessels.
Finnlines said in July 2024 that it was “evaluating another EUR 400–500 million Green Investment Programme on the Finland–Germany route (Helsinki–Travemünde route).”