Finnlines has signed an order for two ropax vessels it said will be its ‘flagships’ in terms of size and technology
It signed the order with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai), previously known as AVIC Weihai. Today, both shipyards are part of China Merchants Group.
Called the Superstar ropax vessels, they are expected to be delivered by 2023. They will be larger than the existing Star-class vessels, with a length of about 230 m, their loading capacity will be for 5,100 lane m for rolling freight and around 1,100 passengers.
This comes after three hybrid ultra large green vessels were ordered at Jinling Shipyard in 2018.
A statement said the vessels will have the highest Finnish/Swedish ice class and will be built with the top technical and environmental views in mind, “while being pioneers in honouring green values”.
It adds “The Superstar ropax vessel is designed to have many types of seating and public areas, plenty of outdoor areas to admire the Archipelago scenery and adequate premises to serve different kinds of groups. At the heart of the vessel will be the shopping area to enhance the onboard travel experience.
“The Superstar vessel is also designed with the focus on fast and efficient cargo handling to guarantee Finnlines’ customers a short turnaround time.”
Finnlines said the next-generation Superstar ropax vessels will bring “significant improvement in Finnlines fleet’s passenger comfort and will provide a brand-new customer experience – taken to a new level through digital services – from check-in to onboard services and feedback collection”.
“We want to provide a high-quality service to our customers respecting all aspects of the environment. This investment aims at energy efficiency and emissions reduction, but at the same time, it is an investment for the highest passenger comfort. We want to lead the development of high-quality roro and ropax services in the Baltic Sea region. Our ongoing €500M newbuilding programme will ensure we continue to provide premium services to our customers”, said Finnlines chief executive Emanuele Grimaldi.
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