Finnish shipping group Meriaura has signed a contract for a 6,800 dwt open deck carrier with the Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard.
Slated for delivery at the beginning of 2028, the ice-class 1A wi measure 120 m long and 21.6 m wide. The design concept is based on two preceding open deck carriers developed by Meriaura, in cooperation with Deltamarin Finland. Deltamarin will also carry out the basic design of the newbuild for the shipyard.
“With features like dynamic positioning, a large deck area and excellent technical and operational performance, the vessel is well-suited for various project requirements all year round,” said Meriaura. “It also provides access to challenging locations with shallow draughts, poor infrastructure or limited space.”
The ship will be equipped with three medium-speed, four-stroke main engines, two of which will be manufactured in Finland. They will be designed for straightforward upgrades to operate on future low or zero-carbon fuels. Meriaura’s own biofuel will be part of the future fuel mix, enabling immediate fuel-related emission reductions.
Additionally, the vessel features battery readiness via a plug-and-play setup. Its optimised hull design and efficient engine technology contribute to significantly improved fuel efficiency.
The new vessel will primarily operate in the shortsea shipping market.
Meriaura’s business development director Jessica Saari said: “Meriaura’s open deck carriers are market leaders in several heavy cargo segments in Northern Europe, but there is still significant untapped potential in regional shortsea shipping activities.
“The newbuilding both complements the existing fleet and increases the business opportunities in present core segments due to improved capacity and capabilities.”
In a bid to modernise its fleet, Meriaura is also planning on adding four new vessels to its fleet across 2026, including the Eco Trader vessels as well as two Groot 5200 XL-type vessels.
Beppe Rosin, ceo of Meriaura, added: “An ice‑classed, Finland‑flagged open deck carrier is also a valuable asset for ensuring Finland’s security of supply. With a slightly bigger vessel size, as with the Eco Traders currently being built, we want to respond to customers’ needs even better, with greater flexibility and across a wider area.”
