Construction Begins on Canada's Largest Con-Ro Ship

Construction on the Oceanex Connaigra, soon to be the largest Canadian container/roll-on, roll-off ship, began recently in Flensburg, Germany.

Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft is building the 20-knot, 210-meter (about 689-foot) ice-class vessel, representing an investment of more than $100 million by Oceanex.

The ship will have a deadweight carrying capacity of 19,500 metric tons and is expected to serve the Newfoundland-based intermodal transportation company for the next 30 years, said Capt. Sid Hynes, Oceanex executive chairman.

Delivery of the ship is expected in the fall of 2013.