DFDS Orders Two Ro-Ro Ships

Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS has placed an order for two new freight ships (ro-ro) at China’s shipbuilder Jinling Shipyard.

Scheduled for delivery at the beginning of 2019, the order is part of DFDS’ ongoing fleet renewal to accommodate freight growth, increase operational efficiency and reduce the environmental impact, according to the company.

The investment in the two new ships totals around DKK 1 billion (USD 150.9 million) to be paid during the period from ordering to delivery.

DFDS has options for four additional ships, each designed to carry 6,700 lane metres of freight equivalent to around 450 trailers.

“The larger size of the new ships will significantly decrease unit costs as well as the environmental impact per transported unit,” DFDS said, adding that both newbuildings are planned to be deployed in the company’s route network on the North Sea.

Equipped with scrubbers for the removal of sulphur, ballast water treatment systems and a number of energy efficiency initiatives, the ships represent a new generation of environmentally friendly ro-ro vessels as they comply with the latest environmental rules of the new IMO-standard EEDI (Energy Efficency Design Index), according to the shipping firm.