Helsinki-based shipping company ESL Shipping, a member of the Aspo Group, has named Haaga, the second of the company’s two LNG-fueled dry cargo vessels.

The naming ceremony took place at the Jinling shipyard in Nanjing, China, on September 22.

Featuring a length of 160 meters and a width of 26 meters, the 26,000 dwt newbuilding is said to be more eco-friendly than the current generation of vessels and produces more than 50 percent lower carbon dioxide emissions.

“Our … shipping company’s investment is almost at the finish line. These next-generation vessels are helping our shipping company to reduce its carbon footprint,” Aki Ojanen, CEO of Aspo Plc and chairman of the Board of Directors of ESL Shipping, commented.

Earlier this year, Viikki, the first newbuilding, was also christened in Nanjing.

“We are very pleased with the building quality of Viikki and Haaga. Now, we will receive excellent and efficient tools for green sea transportation in the future,” Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping, added.

Haaga and its sister ship Viikki will start operating in the Baltic Sea during the first half of 2018, according to the company.

This construction project is part of the Bothnia Bulk project, partly funded by the EU. Its objective is to modernize the sea route between Luleå, Oxelösund and Raahe to be more eco-friendly.