Finnish cargo company Containerships on Thursday said it will be the first shortsea container operator in Europe to run ships on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), the companyannounced.

"Our new ships will not just meet, but exceed all environmental standards in the Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) where we operate, said CEO Kari-Pekka Laaksonen.

"It is important to emphasise that in order to meet future regulations, most competitors on the market will use alternative solutions, such as marine gas oil with decreased sulphur content. These options do not require the same level of investment as the solution Containerships has chosen.

"Our strategy is to stay well ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental regulations, and to be a pioneer in eco-friendly shipping while continuing to offer customers the best value for money."

Laaksonen noted that when operating in gas mode, the ship's engines would also be Tier III compliant with the upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) NOx emission regulations for SECA areas, which comes into effect January 1, 2015.

Two orders have been made for dual-fuel engine container ships and another two orders for similar ships were made earlier this year.

In total, Containerships will spend €250-300 million on its land and sea operations.

Laaksonen said that in order to meet future regulations, most companies in the market will likely look to solutions such as marine gas oil with decreased sulphur content, which doesn't require the same level of investment.

"This is a huge leap for a family owned company. Instead of calling the new environmental regulation an obligation, we see it as a big opportunity for sustainable growth. Our aim is to double both our volume and turnover within 5-6 years," said Laaksonen.

The new ships will have a capacity of 1,400 twenty-foot equivalent units in addition to 300 refrigerated containers.

While the vessels will be made in China, the engines will come from Finnish company Wärtsilä Coporation.

In addition to the new ships, Containerships plans to invest in a fleet of LNG-powered trucks in Finland, Russia, and the UK.

Delegates also met earlier this year at the North American LNG Bunkering Summit to discuss ways in which LNG power could be adopted in the marine fuel industry.