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ESL Shipping's new large LNG-fuelled dry cargo vessel, the Haaga, was launched on Friday at the CSC Jinling Shipyard in Jiangsu, China, and has moved to the outfitting quay.

The 25,600-deadweight-tonne (dwt), 160-metre-long ship is said to be "extremely energy efficient" and is expected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per tonne of cargo transported by more than 50 percent compared to previous-generation vessels.

The Haaga's sister vessel, Viikki, was launched at the end of August and work at the outfitting quay is said to have "progressed as expected".

Both vessels are due to start operating in the Baltic Sea during the first half of 2018. Bunker Index previously reported in August that Skangas has already entered into an agreement to supply them with gas fuel next year.

For the concept and design of the ships, ESL Shipping worked with Finnish ship design company Deltamarin.

The vessels will also hold DNV GL Ice Class IA notations, as they are to be used in the wintry conditions around the Baltic region.

Once completed, the ships will be two of the first large LNG-fuelled bulk carriers in the world. Another large LNG-powered bulker, being built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, is due to be completed towards the end of 2017.

Vessel specifications:

- 25,600 dwt

- 400-cubic-metre LNG fuel tanks

- Satisfies IMO Phase 3 environmental mandates

- Modified B.Delta26LNG bulker design

- Optimized hull form