Finland’s Viking Line says the company’s new LNG-powered ferry has returned to China’s Xiamen Shipbuilding after its first voyage on the open sea.
The Chinese yard launched the 222 meters long Viking Glory in January this year while Viking Line said in April the ship would start trials in June.
The Finnish firm said in an update on Wednesday the vessel has completed a six-day sea trial with nearly 200 passengers on board.
Following the completion of the public areas, the vessel would head out for the second sea trial, it said.
The newbuild will join the Finnish company’s Viking Grace that holds the title of the world’s first-ever large ferry to run on LNG.
Viking Line expects the new ship to use up to 10 percent less fuel than Viking Grace despite the fact that the newbuild is larger.
Viking Glory features six 31DF dual-fuel engines from Wartsila but also the firm’s storage and supply system. In addition, the vessel has ABB’s azipod propulsion.
The vessel will replace Amorella and provide about 500 lane metres of additional capacity on the Turku–Stockholm route in the Baltic Sea. It will have a capacity for 2,800 passengers in 922 cabins.
Viking Line plans to put the vessel in service in early 2022.