Mediterranean's biggest Ro-Ro ship launched in Turkey

ISTANBUL

Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS launched the Mediterranean's largest Ro-Ro ship in Turkey, according to U.N. Ro-Ro on Thursday.

The 237-meter-long Ephesus Seaways vessel with a 6,700 linear-meter capacity has been put into service following the naming ceremony in Istanbul.

The ship will also be the largest vessel to serve DFDS customers on routes between Turkey and the EU.

The Ephesus Seaways, which will begin its journey from Istanbul, is expected to arrive Trieste in northeast Italy on Tuesday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Peder Gellert Pedersen, head of DFDS Shipping Division, said the new vessel -- capable to carry 450 trucks -- will offer "much wider service capacity" to international road transporters and logistics companies serving between Turkey and Europe.

Selcuk Boztepe, senior vice president of DFDS Mediterranean, for his part, said that Ephesus Seaways is first of the six Ro-Ro ships produced by China's Jinling Shipyard on order.

In April 2018, DFDS agreed to acquire 98.8 percent stake of Turkey’s U.N. Ro-Ro for €950 million ($1.175 billion) on a debt-free basis.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev