By Bosphorus News Economy Desk
Turkon Line's Kaşif Kalkavan, the first and largest LNG-fuelled containership built in Türkiye, has begun operations on the company's India service.
The 4,000-TEU vessel was built by Sedef Shipyard, a Turkon Holding company, as the first of two new baby panamax sister ships ordered for Turkon Line. The carrier has said the two vessels will increase its fleet capacity by about 50 percent.
Kaşif Kalkavan can operate on LNG and four conventional marine fuels. It is also equipped with selective catalytic reduction and exhaust gas cleaning systems to control nitrogen oxide and sulphur emissions.
The vessel will serve a route connecting ports in Türkiye, Europe, the Red Sea and western India. The service is integrated with Turkon's US network, extending the company's cargo connections between Asia, Europe and North America.
The delivery adds to Türkiye's record in complex civilian shipbuilding. Bosphorus News previously examined the industry's ability to produce large civilian platforms alongside its defence output following the launch of Angelique, the largest yacht ever built in the country.
Sources: Turkon Line, The Maritime Executive, Bosphorus News review and reporting.