Seago Line, an intra-European short sea carrier in the Maersk family, has introduced its new container vessel “Vistula Maersk” to its feeder link between Rotterdam, St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga.
It is the first in the series of ice-class vessels purpose-built to serve the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
The new ships are the world’s largest ice-class container vessels, designed specifically for operation in winter conditions (down to -25 degrees C).
Apart from their stronger hull, they are characterised by high refrigerated cargo intake (600 reefer plugs), which is of special importance in the trade where perishables make a large share of cargoes moved. Some of the fresh commodities moved on the short-sea service include citrus, tomatoes, oranges, potatoes to name a few.
“Vistula Maersk” made her maiden call to Petrolesport and First Container Terminal in St. Petersburg on Friday, 20th April 2018.
She will shortly be joined by her sister ship “Volga Maersk” and these vessels will together be the only two to operate on the North Europe Feeder Link 1 service, ensuring consistency in tonnage and enhanced reliability throughout the year.
During the coming months, five other sisters (“Vayenga Maersk”, “Venta Maersk”, “Vuoksi Maersk”, “Vilnia Maersk” and the last one still to be announced) will join “Vistula” and “Volga”.
Characteristics of “Vistula Maersk:”
- Length overall: 200 m,
- Beam (breadth): 35.2 m,
- Height (above baseline): 56.1 m,
- Height (above waterline): 46.1 m,
- Draught: 11 m,
- Main engine: MAN B&W,
- Nominal capacity: 3596 TEU,
- Reefer capacity: 600 plugs,
- Standard crew: up to 28,
- Builder: COSCO Zhoushan Shipyard, China,
- Flag state: Denmark.
