ESL Shipping christens new cargo ship Ms Alppila

ESL Shipping, a subsidiary of Aspo Group, has named a new bulk carrier ordered from ABG Shipyard in India as Ms Alppila. The christening ceremony took place in India. The ship's patron is Mrs. Terttu Tamminen, wife of Sakari Tamminen, CEO of Rautaruukki Corporation. This marks the fourth vessel in ESL Shipping's history to bear the name Alppila.

The approximately 18,800-ton capacity vessel belongs to ESL Shipping's Eira class. Ms Alppila is equipped with its own cranes and built to the highest Finnish ice class standard, 1A Super. Completion and delivery are scheduled for the end of 2010. The ship's acquisition is financed through a leasing agreement.

"Alppila is designed for the demanding conditions of the Baltic Sea. Year-round transport reliability is very important for our customers," stated Markus Karjalainen, President of ESL Shipping. "The new vessel is part of a fleet renewal process in line with ESL Shipping's strategy."

ESL Shipping transports dry bulk materials, primarily in the Baltic Sea region. In 2009, the company handled approximately 11 million tons of cargo, with the steel industry accounting for 53 percent and the energy industry for 43 percent. The shipping company operates a fleet of 17 vessels, with a total deadweight capacity of around 200,000 tons.