Tag

Tag: WALLENIUS SOL | Ferry Shipping News

Jun 14
3

RoRo SOUTH ENABLER Delivered to Wallenius SOL

By | 2025 Newsletter week 24 | No Comments
  • On 11 June 2025, SOUTH ENABLER was officially delivered to WALLENIUS SOL during her westbound passage past Gibraltar.
  • The ship was part of the Mann Lines acquisition announced in February.
  • She replaces ML FREYJA on the Tilbury–Cuxhaven–Turku–Paldiski–Bremerhaven–Tilbury route.
  • SOUTH ENABLER is now heading to Zeebrugge to load cargoes before entering regular service.
  • ML FREYJA will be redelivered to her owners. (Visemar Levante SRL c/o Visemar di Navigazione)

Key Specifications

  • Built by Visentini Shipyard, designed by NAOS Ship and Boat Design
  • Length: 203.4 metres
  • Engines: 2 × 7,200 kW Wärtsilä, methanol-ready
  • Speed: 22 knots
  • Classification: RINA, Ice Class 1A
  • Capacity: Two vehicle decks, 197 vehicles
  • Cargo: RoRo, LoLo, high and heavy

SOUTH ENABLER is designed to reduce emissions with a modern hull and efficient propulsion system. She enters service under a 5-year time charter.

Apr 18
3

New Wallenius SOL RoRo on Sea Trials

By | 2025 Newsletter week 16 | No Comments

SOUTH ENABLER, the new RoRo vessel for Mann Lines / Wallenius SOL, reached the sea for the first time on Saturday, 12 April.

The ship has been built by Cantieri Navale Visentini, based on a concept by NAOS Ship and Boat Design.

She will join the Wallenius SOL fleet in May. The vessel was originally ordered by Mann Lines, a company acquired by Wallenius SOL in February 2025 [press release].

She will primarily serve the ports of Turku – Paldiski – Bremerhaven – Zeebrugge – Tilbury – Cuxhaven – Turku.

Newbuilding C.236, initially intended for Mann Lines, is a lengthened version of the RoRo vessel ML FREYJA, completed by the same shipyard for the same operator in 2017.

The owner of the vessel will be a company within the Visentini Group, and she will be chartered to Mann Lines / Wallenius SOL.

Main data of SOUTH ENABLER: 3,000 lane metres plus 200 cars | LOA 203m | 2 Wärtsilä engines of 7200 kw each | 22 knots speed | RINA Class | Ice Class 1A | methanol ready

Feb 07
3

WALLENIUS SOL acquires Mann Lines

By | 2025 Newsletter week 06 | No Comments

 WALLENIUS SOL, the shipping company with the base in the Bay of Bothnia, has acquired Mann Lines, the provider of liner RoRo and container vessel services, logistics and forwarding.

  • Result: larger fleet and an expanded port network stretching from the Baltic countries to North West Europe.
  • Connections with reliable partners in major hub ports extend the service range to Ireland, Spain and beyond.
  • The highly complementary routes of both companies will improve service capacity and regularity, while minimal customer overlap allows WALLENIUS SOL to add approximately 200 new clients.
  • WALLENIUS SOL will also welcome new offices in Estonia, Latvia, and the UK, while increasing its presence in Finland, Germany, and the Benelux.
  • New RoRo vessel under construction @Visentini.

“This acquisition strengthens WALLENIUS SOL’s position as a reliable partner for customers in our key operating regions, enhancing our ability to deliver a more comprehensive range of tailored solutions to meet our customers evolving needs,” says Elvir Dzanic, CEO, WALLENIUS SOL.

Bill Binks, former CEO of Mann Lines and new Vice President WS South at

WALLENIUS SOL: “We are thrilled to embark on this journey together, as we unite our expertise and resources. Being under WALLENIUS SOL leadership will unlock new opportunities for our colleagues and customers, bringing tangible benefits to the Northern European market.”

Dec 13
2

WALLENIUS SOL Expands LoLo Service with Tornio, Piteå and Rotterdam

By | 2024 Newsletter week 50 | No Comments

From January 2025, WALLENIUS SOL is expanding its LoLo service to include Port of Tornio, Port of Piteå and Port of Rotterdam. This enhanced network improves connectivity in the Bay of Bothnia and strengthens access to deep-sea routes via Rotterdam alongside Antwerp.

The container vessel, PEYTON LYNN C., with a capacity of 860 TEU, has been chartered to operate the service between Kokkola, Oulu, Tornio, Piteå, Rotterdam and Antwerp with a fixed bi-weekly rotation.

WALLENIUS SOL mainly operates RoRo / ConRo vessels.

Source: WALLENIUS SOL on LinkedIn

Oct 11
2

WALLENIUS SOL Partners with BB Logistics for Kemi Warehouse Operations

By | 2024 Newsletter week 41 | No Comments

WALLENIUS SOL has announced a long-term partnership with BB Logistics to offer warehouse services in Kemi, starting in January 2025. The agreement includes a 12,000 m² facility at the Port of Kemi, enhancing WALLENIUS SOL’s liner service in the region. This collaboration will streamline cargo handling for imports and exports, supporting the growing demand in northern Finland and Sweden, driven by major industrial investments, particularly in green technologies.

For more details, visit Wallenius SOL.

Oct 04
2

WALLENIUS SOL Customers Can Opt for Biogas

By | 2024 Newsletter week 40 | No Comments

WALLENIUS SOL is enhancing its commitment to sustainable maritime infrastructure by launching a biogas offering that allows customers to “Lighten the Load” by purchasing liquefied biogas (LBG) corresponding to their fuel consumption.

“It may seem unusual for a shipping company to talk about ‘lightening the load,’ but this is about reducing our environmental impact through renewable fuels,” says CEO Elvir Dzanic.

With growing demand for renewable options, WALLENIUS SOL’s LBG service is ISCC-certified, offering customers a way to reduce their carbon footprint and ETS costs. “Reducing environmental impact is a collaborative effort,” adds Sustainability Manager Rebecca Tagaeus. “By offering flexible biogas options, we support a gradual shift from fossil fuels.”

Customers can choose between 10 to 100% LBG for their fuel mix. In 2022, WALLENIUS SOL introduced multi-fuel ice-classed vessels, BOTNIA ENABLER and BALTIC ENABLER, which lead their category in CO2 efficiency. “Together with our customers, we can accelerate the transition to renewable fuels,” says Tagaeus.

Photo: Mike Louagie

Jul 07
0

Wallenius SOL’s record ship reaches Europe – first call Zeebrugge

By | 2022 Newsletter week 27 | No Comments

BOTNIA ENABLER – the world’s largest ice-rated ConRo vessel with multi-fuel (*) operation – has reached Europe and will enter regular service within a few days.

The first of two Ferry Shipping Summit award-winning ConRo vessels called at Zeebrugge on June 30th.

“Finally being able to welcome her to Europe is a big deal,” says Ragnar Johansson, Managing Director at Wallenius SOL.

On 7 July 2022, BOTNIA ENABLER will enter scheduled traffic on her regular Zeebrugge-Antwerp-Kookola-Oulu-Kemi-Skellefteå-Travemünde route.

“Botnia Enabler has increased our container capacity by 300%, and almost 100% for RoRo cargo, compared to the ship she is replacing. And later, when we add BALTIC ENABLER, the route will have a capacity of 962 TEU,” says Ragnar Johansson.

The vessels have been designed by Knud E. Hansen.

(*) Multi fuel = LNG, LBG, diesel and synthetic diesel

Ragnar Johansson, Managing Director Wallenius SOL, and Michael Kjellberg, Board Member Wallenius SOL, minutes before embarking the ship for the first time.

Lieve Duprez, Chief Officer Shortsea at Port of Antwerp Bruges and Captain Tobias Persson

Jun 23
0

BALTIC ENABLER complements the duo

By | 2022 Newsletter week 25 | No Comments

Chinese shipyard CIMC Raffles has delivered BALTIC ENABLER to its owner WALLENIUS SOL (22 June).

BALTIC ENABLER, together with her sister ship BOTNIA ENABLER delivered earlier in the spring, has been named RoRo vessel of the year at the Ferry Shipping Summit 2022.

She is considered to be the world’s largest ice-rated ConRo vessel with multi-fuel operation.

The newly built vessel, which has Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A, an LOA of 242 metres and a beam of 35.2 metres, is sailing under the Swedish flag. In addition to their size, the Enablers are characterized by their high environmental performance and a design specially suited to the shipping requirements of the Swedish and Finnish base industry. According to Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) estimates, the vessels will be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 63%, NOx by 96% and SOx and particulates by 99%.

Once in Europe she will begin trafficking her regular Zeebrugge-Antwerpen-Kokkola-Skelleftea-Oulu-Kemi-Travemünde route.

Wallenius Marine in collaboration with Knud E Hansen led the design work and the construction project for the two sister ships. Wallenius Marine will also be responsible for manning and technical operation of the new vessels.

Ice class: 1A Super

Type of vessel: ConRo

LOA: 242 m

Beam: 35.2 m

Deadweight: 27,000 tonnes

Cargo capacity: 5,800 Lane metres

Max speed: 20 knots

Engines: Multi-fuel (LNG, LBG, diesel and synthetic diesel)

May 23
0

BOTNIA ENABLER delivered to Wallenius SOL

By | 2022 Newsletter week 20 | No Comments

BOTNIA ENABLER, the world’s largest ice-rated multi-fuel ConRo vessel, has now been delivered to its owner Wallenius SOL.

“We’re incredibly pleased and proud to welcome Botnia Enabler to our fleet. She’s been eagerly awaited by us and our customers,” says Ragnar Johansson, Managing Director, WALLENIUS SOL.

The ship has a length of 242 metres, a beam of 35.2 metres and the highest Finnish-Swedish ice class to cope with the harsh winter conditions in the Gulf of Bothnia.

The ship will be loading cargo in two Chinese ports before the she heads home to Europe and the Gulf of Bothnia. According to calculations, Botnia Enabler will call at its first European port, Antwerp, at the end of June. The ship will then enter regular traffic on her Zeebrugge-Antwerp-Kokkola-Skellefteå-Oulu-Kemi-Travemünde route.

The container carrying capacity on the route will increase by almost 300% and roro capacity will increase by almost 100%.

BOTNIA ENABLER is significantly more energy efficient per transported unit than older vessels, and according to IVL’s calculations, she will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 63%, but also NOx (96%), SOx (99%) and particulates (99%).

Her sister ship, BALTIC ENABLER, is scheduled for delivery later this summer.

Botnia Enabler

Ice class: 1A Super

Type of vessel: ConRo

LOA: 242 m

Dead weight: 27,000 tonnes

Cargo capacity 5,800 lane metres

Maximum speed: 20 knots

Engines: Multi-fuel (LNG, LBG, diesel and synthetic diesel)