Containerships and GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg have jointly ordered two dual-fuel engine-technology containerships for European short-sea trade.

Finland’s Containerships will charter the ships over the long term, theowner and technical manager will be GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg, while Arkon Shipping will be the commercial manager and the charter broker.

Financial details of the shipbuilding deal and the shipyard were not disclosed. An option for two additional units was attached to the deal.

The containerships, both of which will be delivered in 2016, will use LNG but will also be able to burn conventional marine diesel oil/heavy fuel.

Each ship will accommodate up to 639 units of 45-foot containers and have a total capacity of 1,400 teu. They will also be able to accommodate up to 300 refrigerated containers.

Containerships said that the company will be the first short-sea operator in Europe to run ships on LNG.

Rowil Ponta, managing director of GNS Shipping and Nordic Hamburg, said: “It is our investment strategy to focus on modern, economical and environmentally friendly ships and cooperate with experienced charterers to develop our newbuilding projects.

“These ships will be the new benchmark for the European feeder trades in terms of environmental and economical efficiency,” he added.