World’s largest ConRo named

At 242 metres, the Baltic Enabler is said to be the world’s largest ice-rated ConRo (hybrid RoRo). She received her name at a gathering of around 100 people at the PSA Zeebrugge terminal at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

She was christened by Anette Johansson, the wife of Wallenius Sol’s managing director, Ragnar Johansson. “I’ve followed the ship from the beginning of the project right through to delivery, and I’m convinced that Baltic Enabler will do her part for the climate, the environment and especially for industry in the north and its suppliers in the south,” she said.

The Baltic Enabler and her sister ship Botnia Enabler are both icebreakers with a deadweight of 28,000 tonnes. They have a cargo capacity of 6,442 lane metres (962 teu) with room for trailers, containers, industrial loads and high or heavy project loads.

Running a variety of fuels (LNG, LBG, diesel and synthetic diesel) the ConRos have a reported 57% reduction in fuel consumption and 63% reduction in GHG emissions per transported unit compared to the MGO-fuelled vessels being replaced. SOx, NOx and particulate matters are reduced by 99%.

“These enormous RoRo vessels are a guarantee for our customers, their growth and their long-term planning,” said Theo Milliau, terminal manager at PSA Zeebrugge.

“Thanks to the extra capacity, Zeebrugge will act as a hub for Scandinavia to an even greater extent than it does today,” he added.

The Enablers will run weekly between Zeebrugge-Antwerp-Kokkola-Oulu-Kemi-Skellefteå and Travemünde.