The keel of the first of four ships to be built for a Swedish client, worth around US$ 130 million in total, was laid at Rijeka's 3. Maj shipyard on Monday.
The ships, to be used for the transport of asphalt, will be built for the Wisby Tankers company.
Each vessel will have a carrying capacity of 15,000 tonnes. They will be 133.3 metres long, 23 metres wide, and 12.4 metres high and will be powered by a 4,500 kilovolt engine.
The ship to be built first is currently the biggest tanker for asphalt transport in the world.
The vessel is expected to be delivered to the client in late April 2012, 3. Maj CEO Edi Kucan said, adding that the quality of construction work and respect for deadlines could facilitate the signing of contracts on two more ships to be built for the same client.
Kucan said the successful construction of a barge for a Belgian client had made it possible for the shipyard to sign a contract to build another barge for the same client.
Kucan said that with the ships to be built and possible new commissions the shipyard would have enough work in 2012. It is therefore high time to start agreeing contracts for 2013 and to carry out the privatisation of the shipyard as soon as possible, he said.
