August 17 - STX Finland's Turku Shipyard has started production of an innovative and versatile multipurpose deck cargo vessel ordered by Oy Gaiamare Ab.

The newbuild is an environmentally-friendly specialised ship that will be delivered during spring 2012.

With a length of approximately 105 m and a width of approximately 19 m, the vessel is designed for transportation of demanding and heavy project cargo, such as offshore wind farm structures. The vessel is 
also designed to operate as an oil spill response vessel, both in the open sea and around the archipelago.

"This technically highly advanced vessel is very important for Turku shipyard. The project will also promote production in Turku shipyard. The design and purchase processes of the multipurpose deck cargo vessel have gone according to plan," says Jari Anttila, director of STX Turku Shipyard.

Gaiamare Ltd belongs to the Turku based Meriaura Group. The latter was founded in 1986 and specialises in the transport of industrial products and project cargo on the Baltic Sea and in elsewhere Europe. Currently 14 ice-reinforced dry cargo ships are chartered by the company.