Remontowa launches its biggest vessel

The first of a series of ships ordered by Finnish chartering and operations company Meriaura Oy Ltd has been launched at Remontowa SA, in Poland.

Named ?Aura?, (yard no. B 602/1), this is a new type of multipurpose deck cargo vessel and was recently launched at Northern Shipyard, a member of Remontowa Group. The newbuilding is currently the largest ship being built by Remontowa and is specially designed for heavy project cargoes on deck and are being built according to the Finnish-Swedish ice class I A.

The main characteristics of the vessel are length o.a. 101 m, beam 18.8 m, height 6.55 m and deadweight of 4,600 tonnes. The operating speed is about 13 knots and the vessel?s main cargo will be steel blocks and ship sections for Aker Yards.

Aker Yards and Meriaura Oy Ltd have signed a long-term transportation contract for transportation of ship blocks. In the design of the vessel concept, special attention is paid to the overall safety and efficiency of the cargo transportation, the sea keeping performance and ice-going capabilities of the vessel. Transportation of ship blocks with this new type of vessel will considerably reduce the schedule risks due to weather and ice conditions.

The capacity and flexibility of the new vessel concept will be much higher than with conventional barge transportations, and at the same time the transportation will be more economical. The sea fastening and securing of the ship blocks onto the deck will be carried out with specially designed equipment and the design includes several innovative and patented solutions.

The order holds a possibility of several additional vessels. The Aura is expected for delivery by September 2007, to be taken by Oy Gaiamare Ab, a part of the Meriaura Group. The investment budget is about 14 million Euros per vessel.