Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions said Tuesday it would deliver the new LNG-powered ferry Aurora Botnia to compatriot Wasaline in mid-July.
The yard previously planned to deliver the ship in June but the vessel still has to complete gas trials.
This is the second delay as the duo had earlier this year agreed to postpone the handover from May to June due to Covid-related issues.
“The adjusted date of handover in July allows RMC enough time for the preparatory work done on the ferry’s innovative fuel solution to be completed and to assure a corona-safe working environment at the shipyard,” the yard said in a statement.
More preparatory work
The car and passenger ferry, which will operate on the route between the Finnish city of Vaasa and the Swedish city of Umea, has recently completed its first sea trials.
After this, Rauma says it has been preparing for the next sea trial that would focus on testing the ship’s primary fuel, LNG.
“This is a new generation car and passenger ferry that can use LNG, electricity, and in the future, biogas as fuel. Preparatory work for the innovative fuel solution has taken more time than expected, which has resulted in an adjusted delivery date for July,” Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO of Rauma, said.
The ferry features Wartsila’s four engines able to run on liquefied natural gas but also biogas (LBG).
Additionally, batteries will supply power for peak shaving and support of hotel loads, as well as for propulsion during entry and exit to and from the ports.
Thanks to these new technologies, the ferry will “significantly” lower emissions compared to the ship that now operates across the Kvarken strait, Rauma previously said.
The ferry will accommodate 800 passengers and have a cargo capacity of 1,500 lane meters for trucks and cars.
Kvarken Link, a firm formed by the city of Vaasa and the municipality of Umea, ordered the vessel at Rauma in January 2019. Wasaline is a unit of Kvarken Link.
