ESL Shipping has commenced construction of the first vessel in its new Green Handy series, with a steel-cutting ceremony held on 1 June at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing, China.

The event marks the transition from the design and planning phase to active production of four 17,000-dwt handysize vessels, which are designed to operate on green methanol and renewable diesel from delivery. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2027, with the fourth expected in the first half of 2028.

According to ESL Shipping, the vessels incorporate a range of features aimed at reducing energy consumption and emissions. These include heat pumps in the accommodation block, electric cranes, a battery hybrid system and a shore power connection. Bow and stern thrusters are fitted to allow independent manoeuvring in ports without tug assistance.

The vessels will carry an Ice Class 1A rating, reflecting ESL Shipping's operations in the Baltic region, where year-round navigation in ice conditions is a requirement. Key dimensions include a length of 150 metres, a breadth of 23.77 metres and a shallow draft of 8.6 metres.

China Merchants Jinling Shipyard previously also built the Finnish carrier's LNG-powered vessels Viikki and Haaga, which were delivered in 2018.

Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping, said: "These vessels represent a new chapter in our fleet development and our commitment to supporting industrial customers with low-emission sea transport solutions. We are pleased to continue this partnership with Jinling Shipyard as we bring this new vessel concept into operation."

ESL Shipping is a leading carrier of dry bulk cargoes in the Baltic region and is a subsidiary of Finnish conglomerate Aspo Plc. The combined fleet of ESL Shipping and its affiliate AtoB@C Shipping comprises around 40 vessels, with cargo capacities ranging from 4,000 to 25,000 DWT.