Finland-based shipping company ESL Shipping, part of the ASPO Group, has decided to reflag its new LNG-fueled bulk carrier Haaga to the Finnish flag.
The flag change took place in Kokkola, Finland, on March 7, 2019.
Previously, the 25,500 dwt newbuilding was flying the flag of Portugal. This was criticized by workers unions but the company has now managed to reach an agreement with them.
”We found a constructive solution with unions and are proud to finally hoist the Finnish flag onboard the Haaga,” Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping, commented.
ESL Shipping’s all owned vessels are now Finland-flagged. As explained, this gives the company synergies in crew replacement and rotation. In addition, it improves the competitiveness of the whole fleet through the introduction of the fleet wide mixed crewing model.
The Handy size dry bulk cargo vessel Haaga and its sister ship Viikki , the first of their kind to use LNG, were delivered to the company in 2018.
ESL Shipping’s fleet comprises 21 vessel units with a combined total deadweight tonnage of about 335,000 tons, according to the company’s website.