The ice-class vessel ‘Vistula Maersk’ has been named the Danish Ship of the Year 2018 by Maritime Denmark Media Group.
Ice-class vessel features
The Vistula Maersk, first in the series of Seago Line’s new ice-class vessels designed for harsh weather conditions and icey waters and recently started operation on one Seago Line’s North European routes.
New ice-class vessels have features that improve cargo flexibility, including a wide beam concept that allows better distribution of containers on board, 600 reefer plugs or solutions for increasing stowage flexibility.
Network flexibility
The vessels offer improved network flexibility by allowing year-round operation in cold climate. The sheltered forecastle deck reduces dependency on icebreakers or convoy availability and improves crew safety. Flexible fuel change system allows easy change to low-sulphur fuel, compliant with Emission Control Areas. Vistula also has many features that improve overall efficiency, such as hull form and propulsion system optimised for high fuel efficiency, or various energy and CO2 saving initiatives.
Built in China but designed by Danish
Maritime Denmark points out that although Vistula Maersk has been built in China, the ship has a distinctive Danish flair. Apart from the vessel herself being designed by Danish designers, several significant Danish subcontractors have contributed to the ship’s equipment, including MAN Diesel and Turbo, DESMO Oceanguard, Wärtsilä-Lyngsø, Hempel, NOVENVCO, Grundfoss, Agrometer and Viking. Vistula also won the award due to her innovative green design, built to reduce Co2 emissions and increase fuel efficiency.
Statement released
Kenneth Ottar Svan, Senior Naval Architect at Maersk Line said, “On behalf of the Maersk Line technical project team, we are very proud and grateful that Vistula Maersk has been awarded this prestigious recognition. The project team has been involved in the design and engineering process from the very start, and receiving this award is a huge acknowledgement of all the work done to make this vessel efficient and fully prepared for future network demands and regulations”.
He further added, “Vistula Maersk and her sister units are the world’s largest container ships within ice-class 1A. This feature is crucial for operation in waters that freeze during the winter and bring a very important value proposition to the market”.
Seago Line CEO Søren Castbak said, “We are honoured in Seago Line to have Vistula Maersk and her sister units in our route network, especially when she has now also won the award ‘Danish Ship of the Year’. This emphasises how unique Vistula and her sisters are”.
Plays a key role in customer growth
Søren Castbak further added, “New ice class vessels play a key role in Seago Line’s strategy to grow with our customers and build on a market leadership position within transport of refrigerated cargo. These ships make us unique, as we will be able to offer stable, year-round service to our customers even in icy waters during winter. With their high refrigerated cargo intake, they are a true game-changer and support our focus on reefer trade into the Baltics”.
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Source: Port News
