Eimskip intends the vessels to provide transportation services on the company’s current Blue Line between Reykjavík and Rotterdam, as well as Teesport in the UK.
The transportation company expects to take delivery of the vessels in the second half of 2028.
Vilhelm Már Thorsteinsson, CEO of Eimskip, said: “We see great opportunities with the delivery of these new vessels, especially considering the ambitious plans to increase exports of fresh seafood and salmon.
“Over the past few years, we’ve also seen strong momentum in our Trans-Atlantic services from Europe to North America, which are the foundation of our weekly service between Iceland and North America. These new vessels will support further growth in that service.
“We are proud of the fact that the design of these vessels focuses on customer service, operational efficiency, and reliability. The design also enables transition to alternative energy sources when they become an accessible and reasonable option, supporting the company’s environmental journey.”
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Eimskip will specifically design the vessels with customer service needs in mind, emphasising service speed, reliability and high manoeuvrability for the conditions in the North Atlantic.
With a capacity of 2,280 TEUs, length of 185 metres and breadth of 29.4 metres, the vessels will be the largest ones in Eimskip’s operations.
In addition to efficiently supporting service speed, focus is also on optimal energy utilisation, including hull design, silicone coating, shore power connection and various other equipment selection.
The vessels will also feature a dual-fuel propulsion system, methanol- and LNG-ready, supporting the company’s environmental policy.
ElbFeeder, majority-owned by the German shipping company Ernst Russ, which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, has signed contracts with China Merchants Jin Ling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co. Ltd.
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ElbFeeder currently operates seven container vessels and has performed strongly in recent years.
Expected lease liability for Eimskip’s balance sheet, for the 10-year time-charter with ElbFeeder, will amount to $86 million in 2028, partly offset by lease liabilities for current vessels on the Blue Line.
Joseph Schuchmann, Co-CEO and Chief Commercial Officer of Ernst Russ AG, said: “This investment will be a milestone for Ernst Russ, marking our first newbuild investment in decades.
“We are delighted to be able to implement it together with our long-standing partner Eimskip, who will also function as the initial long-term charterer and thus contributes significantly to the financial viability of the project.”
Last week, Shipping company, Interasia, signed a shipbuilding contract with Jiangsu YangZiJiang Shipbuilding Group (YZJ) for six new 2,900 TEUs container vessels, with an option for two additional vessels.
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