German ship owner Blue Fin Shipping has ordered an additional four Combi Freighters 3850 cargo vessels from Damen Shipyards Group, accelerating the fleet expansion to six new vessels since the order for the first one was signed, late 2020.
The two new vessels Unitas-H and Solitas-H, are already in full operation in typical European shortsea trades, transporting a variety of cargoes like steel, woodpulp, grain, fertiliser in bulk or in big bags. These are the first two operational CF 3850 vessels built to the new and improved design from Damen.
The first ordered CF 3850, Unitas-H, was delivered to Blue Fin Shipping within six weeks from signing the order, from stock at Damen Shipyards Yichang in China on 4 January 2021.
The owner successfully arranged a crew (challenged by Covid restrictions) and the vessel sailed for Malaysia where she took on cargo and departed for Rotterdam.
Throughout the voyage the owner and Damen monitored the vessel with regard to its fuel consumption, speed and weather conditions.
Analysis of the data confirmed that the vessel’s fuel consumption had not only improved significantly compared to the older designs, but that she also had done so while maintaining a very acceptable sustained speed in the face of head winds and seas while fully loaded.
The owner was so pleased with these results that shortly after the arrival at the North Sea port, a contract was signed for the second vessel of the same design, this one to be named Solitas-H.
This second vessel was delivered from stock on 21 August that same year. Client satisfaction and good cooperation with Damen Shipyards have led to even more new orders: on 16 August 2021, orders were signed for two more CF 3850, Baltic Fin and Bothnia Fin to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Two more vessels of the same design were ordered at a contract signing on 2 November 2021, and Bering Fin and Biscay Fin will be delivered in the third quarter of 2023.
Blue Fin Shipping is founded to set new standards in short sea shipping for economic and ecological performance by operating a fleet of coasters. The company aims to be ahead of competition by meeting current and even future environmental protection criteria.
Founded as a joint venture with four entrepreneurs with a deep maritime knowledge and one big shipping company that has functioned for many years, Blue Fin Shipping implements cloud based fleet management tools to achieve state-of-the-art real time reporting for quick decision making.
