July 9 - Italian shipping group Ignazio Messina has started the second stage of its EUR500 million (USD642.8 million) newbuilding programme.
Stage one of the programme was completed with the delivery of Jolly Quarzo - a ro-ro container vessel built by the South Korea Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shipyard - in February 2013 (http://tinyurl.com/ppvker2). It was Ignazio Messina's fourth new vessel acquired from the South Korean shipyard.
Ignazio Messina initiated stage two of its newbuild programme with a steel cutting ceremony for the first of four sisterships - the 45,200 dwt Jolly Titanio - all of which will be built at the STX Shipyard in South Korea.
The multipurpose newbuild will have a capacity of 3,900 teu, an overall length of 240 m, a 37.5 m breadth and 11.5 m draft; it will be able to reach a top speed of 21.5 knots. The 45,200 dwt Jolly Titanio will be able to operate into African ports where large containerships cannot be received due to draft limitations and a lack of infrastructure. With a 350-tonne capacity stern quarter ramp, the vessel can load project cargoes measuring up to 7 m tall.
All four of the new vessels will fly the Italian flag, be R.I.N.A and ABS certified and will be registered in the International Register at the Genoa Coast Guard.
Jolly Titanio will be ready to enter service, along with the three sisterships, by the end of 2014, says Ignazio Messina.
