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For the 35 time, HANSA has issued its annual award »Ship of the Year« for the German shipbuilding market. This time, Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) is honoured

for the RoRo vessel »Searoad Mersey II« with its innovative LNG technology
The newbuilding was ordered by Australian shipping and logistics company Searoad in summer 2014. In late 2016 the »Searoad Mersey[ds_preview] II« was delivered to the owner after final sea trials and testing period for the LNG technology in Denmark. Thereafter it began its long journey from the shipyard to its new place of employment in the Bass Strait between the Australian mainland and Tasmania. Marking the first big investment for the waterway in 15 years, it is supposed to replace the current vessel in operation, the »Searoad Mersey«, built 1991 in Asia. The owner intends to increase the freight capacity across Bass Strait by around 50%.

Determining factors for the award are both the hightech equipment and the design. On the one side, the FSG experts together with the client developed a unique bunkering system with LNG-laden trailers which are connected to the engine room via piping – a technology not seen before in the maritime industry.

In addition, the newbuilding has a very high efficiency thanks to extensive hull design works.

For the shipyard at the northernmost edge of Germany, it is already the 5th time it receives HANSA`s award »Ship of the year«. »Searoad Mersey« follows the multipurpose rescue vessel »Murman« of the former Nordic Yards and the German research vessel »Sonne« built bei Meyer Werft in Papenburg and Warnemünde.

Since October 2014 FSG is part of the Norwegian shipping and offshore group Siem. Despite some difficulties, the yard faces as nearly everybody in the shipbuilding community, it has maintained its very good name in the industry in terms of design and shipbuilding expertise, especially for RoRo vessels. According its own accounts, FSG is still the shipyard with the highest number of RoRo newbuildings delivered, despite the disruptions in the European market.