Testament to the revival of shipbuilding in Germany’s northernmost town, a high-capacity ro-ro freight vessel is being readied for delivery by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG).
The 210m trailership Tennor Ocean was sent down the ways from the covered berth at Flensburg on June 17, signifying the first launch since FSG’s economic restart. The vessel was ordered by IVP Ship Invest, part of Lars Windhorst’s Tennor Holding, which bought the yard out of insolvency in 2020.
The twin-engined newbuild, based on the successful RoRo 4100 trailership design produced in series at Flensburg for various owners over a number of years, is the subject of talks with various parties as to possible charter or sale. On the same day as the launching, the deckhouse was positioned on the hull. The commissioning phase is scheduled to begin this summer, and sea trials are expected to take place during the autumn. IVP also holds an option on a further such vessel.
Tennor Ocean has a cargo capacity corresponding to 4,007 lane-metres, whereby a 279-trailer payload is distributed over four decks, accessed across the stern. Passenger capacity is limited to cabin accommodation for 12 truck drivers, the ship being essentially a carrier of unaccompanied freight.
Two MAN eight-cylinder 48/CR common-rail, medium-speed engines, each turning out 9,600kW, drive twin controllable pitch propellers through reduction gearboxes. The installation provides for a service speed of 21.3 knots, and manoeuvring and assistance-free berthing is facilitated by a pair of 1,500kW bow tunnel thrusters.
While preceding ro-ro production at Flensburg between 2017 and 2020 entailed eight examples of the RoRo 4100 type, the design is a derivative of a class developed by the yard and built in multiple numbers over the previous 20 years.
In fact, FSG ranks among the world’s most prolific constructors of ro-ro equipped tonnage. The company’s business return following Tennor takeover has included the landing in September 2021 of an export contract from past Australian client SeaRoad for a new 3,800 lane-metre ro-ro freight vessel, to be fitted with a dual-fuel propulsion system, and due for handover towards the end of 2023. .
However, with the market for ro-ro tonnage for European owners now dominated by Chinese shipbuilders, FSG has decided to pursue a diversification strategy, embracing other, specialised sectors of the commercial market plus a planned entry into the ‘super-yacht’ business and naval vessel construction. The yard is now poised to bid for the long-mooted Polarstern II German research icebreaker.
In keeping with the diversification drive, the Tennor Group took over the insolvent German shipbuilder Werft Nobiskrug during July 2021. Nobiskrug has become a specialist in super-yacht construction, but the company collapsed in April 2021 due to lack of work. The Nobiskrug yard at Rendsburg has now been brought under the management of FSG, which is combining and streamlining resources of both shipyards.
