New ro-ro container vessel for Bahri

The vessel is the second of a six-vessel order worth $411m, and will be employed in the transportation of breakbulk, container, heavylift and project shipments on the company’s liner shipping service which connects the Indian Subcontinent, Red Sea, Mediterranean and North American markets.

The vessels, designed by Knud E Hansen, feature a smaller footprint and lightweight construction, which Bahri claims will consume 45% less fuel over the elderly Ro-Ro fleet they are replacing.

Specifications include a 250 tonne loading bridge and two heavy lift jib cranes with a combined capacity of 250 tonne. Capacity allows 24,000 sq m of RoRo cargo and 364t eu of container space.

“We are now working on a new 5-year strategy for 2013-18 and that will set out the path we expect to follow as far as investment and further fleet expansion is concerned,” deputy ceo Ahmed Sulaiman Al-Eidan, told Seatrade.

Last year Bahri achieved a net profit of $134m, 75% higher than in 2011, with operating profits almost doubling to $121m. The company attributes the strong results to increases in tanker time charter rates on the spot market and also to improvements in the general cargo sector.