Wallenius Marine's new vessel Future Way, based on the innovative Sleipner design concept, was christened in Emden, Germany on 23 September. With an advanced hydro- and aerodynamic design, Future Way contributes to reducing emissions, energy use and environmental impact. This is the first of two car carriers that will go on charter for Volkswagen between Europe and North America.

With the Sleipner concept and the Future Way vessel, Wallenius Marine and Danish design firm KNUD E. HANSEN have raised the bar for innovation in the Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTC) segment.

Wallenius Marine's Future Way

“The Sleipner concept is the result of close co-operation between Wallenius, KNUD E. HANSEN and VW Group. The customer's needs and experience, combined with the shipbuilding and design expertise of KNUD E. HANSEN and Wallenius Marine, have enabled us to take further steps towards truly sustainable shipping with Future Way.” says Johan Mattsson, CEO of Wallenius Marine.

“A distinctive feature is that the ship, thanks to its innovative design, can cross the Atlantic without ballast water in loaded condition. This both reduces the risk of spreading invasive species and makes the vessel lighter, leading to lower fuel consumption.” says Finn Wollesen, Managing Director of KNUD E. HANSEN.

“As Volkswagen Group Logistics, we want to be pioneers in climate-friendly logistics. The Future Way and its sister ship, Way Forward, are helping us achieve this on the North Atlantic with their future-proof, flexible, and efficient engines from MAN Energy Solutions. They not only emit less CO2, but also fewer nitrogen oxides, soot particles, and sulphur oxides, leading to better local air quality. The innovative design of these vessels results in lower fuel consumption and allows us to reduce emissions even further today until alternative fuels made from green energy hopefully become more broadly available in the next decade,” says Simon Motter, Head of Volkswagen Group Logistics.

The vessel's cargo capacity is equivalent to 6,500 cars, which are loaded and unloaded efficiently through the innovative centre ramp system consisting of a long ramp serving all decks.

On the ship, the crew has a gym, recreational facilities and modern social areas that follow the traditional Wallenius idea of the ship being ‘a home away from home’. The christening ceremony gathered around 80 participants. The christening was performed by the ship's lady sponsor, German-born artist Milana Schoeller, who now lives and works from Sweden.