Image credit: ESL Shipping

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ESL Shipping's recently delivered LNG-fuelled dry cargo vessel, Viikki, has commenced regular trade in northern Europe after arriving fully laden at Oxelosund, Sweden, on its maiden voyage from Sakaide in Japan via the Northeast Passage.

The Viikki called at Oxelosund on October 31 and, after discharging, joined sister vessel Haaga and the rest of the ESL fleet operating in the Baltic Sea.

According to ship-tracking data, the 25,600-deadweight-tonne (dwt) Viikki departed from Oxelosund on November 3 and made its way across the Baltic Sea to Riga in Latvia - where, at the time of writing, the vessel is currently moored.

The LNG-powered Viikki was delivered to ESL Shipping at Jinling shipyard in Nanjing on September 4. Like the Haaga, Viikki then headed from the Chinese yard to Japan, from where it travelled to the Baltic Sea region.

The ESL bulk carrier newbuilds form part of the Bothnia Bulk project, which is partly funded by the EU. Its goal is to modernize the sea route between Lulea (Sweden), Oxelosund and Raahe (Finland) - and for the three ports to be more eco-friendly.

In addition, port environmental emissions are set to decrease with the improved availability of shoreside electricity.

Agreement with Skangas

As Bunker Index reported last year, bunker supplier Skangas already has an agreement in place to supply both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied biogas (LBG) to the Viikki and Haaga.

The Viikki is due to be the first vessel to serve at the new Manga LNG terminal in Tornio, Finland - a facility that is partly owned by Skangas.

Agreement with Nauticor

At the end of October, ESL also signed a long-term contract with Linde Group subsidiary Nauticor GmbH & Co. KG for the supply of LNG at Oxelosund in an agreement covering both the Haaga and Viikki.