Finnish shipping company to develop hybrid feeder vessel

Finland’s Meriaura Group has begun development of a hybrid-powered container vessel that can operate on either batteries or sustainably produced biofuel.

The concept vessel will be designed especially for lake, canal, and sea feeder sailings. It will be operated in Lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland under the pilot phase of the project, which will commence in 2024.

Meriaura said the vessel will conform to future Saimax dimension regulations that will come into effect upon the completion of the ongoing extension of the Saimaa canal locks.