Wasaline floats out world's 'most environmentally friendly ropax'

The four main engines, supplied by Wärtsilä, will run on both liquified natural gas and biogas, and the ferry can also operate using electrical power.

Finnish shipping company Wasaline said the carbon dioxide emissions from the new ferry will be significantly lower compared to the Wasa Express ferry that now operates across the Kvarken strait.

"Wasaline wants to be the most sympathetic, eco-friendly and reliable shipping company operating in the Baltic Sea. Today, we will also set out to update our brand to match this new era”, Wasaline managing director Peter Ståhlberg said.

The launch marks the beginning of equipment assembly and interior work for the ferry. With the hull now ready, equipment assembly and interior work will begin, and the focus will shift from steelwork to piping, insulation, ventilation and electrical installation while work around the enginerooms and the car deck will continue.

The integration of automation and various systems will turn on the electricity, water and fuel. The outfitting phase will be concluded with sea trials and commissioning for operation beginning in Q2 2021.

Aurora Botnia will be approximately 150 m long and will have a gross tonnage of 24,600. It will accommodate 800 passengers and will have a freight capacity of 1,500 lane m for cargo and cars. With ice class 1A Super, Aurora Botnia can use both LNG or biogas in addition to diesel fuel in power generation and will feature a battery system and electrical azimuthing propulsion from ABB.

The new ferry is being built by Rauma Marine Constructions shipyard and it will replace the existing Wasa Express Q2 2021. It will be operated by Wasaline and sail between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden on the world’s northernmost all-year passenger route.