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Finnish firm Wärtsilä has been contracted to supply the ship design for a series of state-of-the-art new generation fuel-efficient container feeders.

Cardiff-based Graig Group has ordered up to 26 MARLIN 2000 Blue design container feeders to be built at the major Jin Hai shipyard complex in China. The first two vessels are scheduled for delivery in August and September 2013, with subsequent vessels to be delivered in pairs every two and a half months.

Wärtsilä Ship Design has developed the MARLIN series in close cooperation with Graig and the classification society DNV. The design is said to offer cutting edge features for container vessels. The MARLIN series delivers approximately 30 percent improved fuel efficiency per TEU carried, improved capacity and slow steaming potential, better loading flexibility for different container types, including a high reefer intake, and lower emissions when compared to vessels currently in service.

"This series responds to the industry's needs. There is a gap in the containership market for quality, fuel efficient, competitively-priced and environmentally-friendly feeder ships to service the ultra large containerships now being brought into service by the major lines. This advanced MARLIN family of designs will fill that gap, and we expect this order to be the first of several series of larger capacity future-proof vessels, backed by the strength of the MARLIN consortia." said Hugh Williams, CEO, Graig.

"The MARLIN series is a major leap forward for the container feeder section. The design marks a new era in the container industry's standard for environmentally sustainable, competitively priced and fuel efficient feeder vessels," commented Riku-Pekka Hägg, Vice President, Wärtsilä Ship Design.

The MARLIN 2000 Blue design is intentionally targeted towards the current needs of the high growth intra-Asia trade routes, where Wärtsilä says there is demand for a series of these vessels.

There are two further MARLIN concept designs, which, according to Wärtsilä, will become more attractive to charterers as air emission standards tighten and bunker costs rise.

The MARLIN 2500 Jade design is slightly larger and diesel powered, but is delivered with either scrubber or SCR emissions reduction technology, while offering similar fuel and efficiency gains.

MARLIN 2500 Green is aimed at the market for feeder vessels in ECAS (Emission Control Areas) and offers dual fuel and LNG power options.