Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions will soon complete the new LNG-powered car and passenger ferry Aurora Botnia for compatriot Wasaline.
The ferry has started its sea trials, ahead of delivery later this month, Rauma said on Sunday.
Wasaline previously expected to take delivery of Aurora Botnia in May but the duo had earlier this year agreed to postpone the handover to June due to Covid-related delays.
The car and passenger ferry, which will operate the route between the Finnish city of Vaasa and the Swedish city of Umea, features Wartsila’s four engines able to run on both liquefied natural gas and biogas (LBG).
Additionally, batteries will supply power for peak shaving and support of hotel loads, but also 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, according to the yard.
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.