Meriaura signs shipbuilding contract for open deck carrier
Roll-on/Roll-offThursday, 29 January 2026 at 12:22
Meriaura has signed a shipbuilding contract for an open deck carrier with the Jiangsu Zhenjiang shipyard (Group) CO., LTD. The new ship will be delivered by the beginning of 2028. The ordered 6800 DWT open deck carrier is 120 metres long and 21,6 m wide, 1A ice classed DP2 vessel.
The vessel concept, based on the two preceding open deck carriers developed by Meriaura, has been designed together with Deltamarin Finland. Deltamarin will also carry out the basic design of the vessel for the shipyard. The ship will be equipped with three main engines, two of which will be manufactured in Finland. These engines are medium-speed 4-stroke marine engines designed for easy upgrades to operate on future low or zero carbon fuels.
The new vessel will primarily operate in the short sea shipping market, consistent with the rest of the fleet. The ordered vessel is optimised for heavy project and special cargo, with a specific design focus on demanding RORO operations. With features like dynamic positioning, a large deck area and excellent technical and operational performance, the vessel is well-suited for various project requirements all year round. It also provides access to challenging locations with shallow drafts, poor infrastructure, or limited space.
“Meriaura’s open deck carriers are market leaders in several heavy cargo segments in Northern Europe, but there is still significant untapped potential in regional short sea shipping activities. The newbuilding both complements the existing fleet and increases the business opportunities in present core segments due to improved capacity and capabilities.”- Meriaura’s Business Development Director Jessica Saari
The vessel is optimised to support the green transition through advanced multi-fuel engines. Meriaura’s own biofuel will be part of the future fuel mix, enabling immediate fuel-related emission reductions. Additionally, the vessel features battery readiness via a plug-and-play setup. Its optimised hull design and efficient engine technology contribute to significantly improved fuel efficiency.
”This order is a remarkable milestone in our ongoing fleet renewal program and marks our commitment to both our segments. An ice‑classed, Finland‑flagged open deck carrier is also a valuable asset for ensuring Finland’s security of supply. With a slightly bigger vessel size, as with the Eco Traders currently being built, we want to respond to customers’ needs even better, with greater flexibility and across a wider area.”- Beppe Rosin, CEO of Meriaura
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