Rauma launches Wasaline LNG ferry

Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions on Friday launched the new LNG-powered car and passenger ferry Aurora Botnia for compatriot Wasaline.

The Finnish yard expects to complete the vessel in spring 2021, after which it will operate between Vaasa in Finland and Umea in Sweden.

Rauma says the ship will be the world’s first car and passenger ferry with a “Clean Design” class notation.

Furthermore, the vessels’ four Wartsila main engine will 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.

Rauma launches Wasaline LNG ferry
Image: Rauma Marine Constructions

The launch signals a new stage in building the vessel: the hull is now ready, and equipment assembly and interior work will begin.

The focus will shift from steelwork to piping, insulation, ventilation and electrical installation. Moreover, Rauma will continue work around the engine rooms and the car deck.

The ship will slowly come to life as the integration of automation and various systems will turn on the electricity, and water and fuel will start to move in the pipes.

The vessel’s interior work will be done during next winter while the outfitting phase will be concluded with sea trials and commissioning for operation in spring 2021.

Worth mentioning here, Kvarken Link, a firm formed by the city of Vaasa and the municipality of Umea, ordered the vessel at Rauma in January last year.

Wasaline’s parent company NLC Ferry is a unit of Kvarken Link.

Most Popular

Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG wraps up $4 billion notes offering

Venture Global's unit Plaquemines LNG has closed a $4 billion offering of senior secured notes.

Argentina’s Enarsa to spend $567 million on LNG purchases

Argentina's state-owned LNG importer, Energia Argentina (Enarsa), will spend $570 million to purchase 22 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from BP and TotalEnergies this year.

Shell’s LNG Canada to ship second cargo

Shell-led LNG Canada is expected to soon ship the second cargo of liquefied natural gas from the Kitimat facility on the west coast of Canada, according to shipping data.

More News Like This

Gasum to provide bio-LNG to Wasaline’s ferry as part of pilot project

Finnish state-owned energy firm Gasum will supply bio-LNG to Wasaline's LNG-powered ferry Aurora Botnia as part of a pilot...

Rauma kicks off work on second Tasmanian LNG-fueled ferry

Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions has started construction on the second LNG-powered car and passenger ferry for Tasmanian shipping...

Corsica Linea and Tallink take deliveries of LNG-powered ferries

France's Corsica Linea and Estonia's Tallink have both taken deliveries of LNG-powered ferries this week. Corsica Linea said in a...

Rauma lays keel for first Tasmanian LNG-powered ferry

Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions has held a keel-laying ceremony for the first out of two LNG-powered car and...