Faroe Island-based shipowner Smyril Line has initiated a major new stage of fleet development by ordering two methanol-ready ro-ro freight vessels in China.

Designed in co-operation with Danish consultancy Knud E.Hansen, the trailerships are due to be phased into duty in 2026 on the route network encompassing the Faroes, Iceland, Denmark, Lithuania and the Netherlands. The shipbuilding contractor is Yantai CIMC Raffles, whose drive into the ro-ro segment has recently been highlighted by production of 7,000 CEU-capacity PCTC tonnage.

Each 190m newbuild will be laid out for 3,300 lane-metres of ro-ro cargo, and will incorporate levels of robustness, seakindliness and reliability that befits the rigours of year-round service in the north east Atlantic, together with the requisite advances in environmentally-considerate engineering. All cargo transference will be by way of a maximum-width stern ramp.