Finland’s Viking Line expects its new LNG-powered ferry to leave China’s Xiamen Shipbuilding for trials in June as works on the vessel progress.
To remind, the Chinese yard launched the 222 meters long Viking Glory in January this year.
The Finnish firm said in a construction update on Monday that about 800 people currently work on the LNG-powered ship in order to complete it by the end of this year.
The next steps in the construction work are to further test the Azipod propulsion system, cool the liquefied natural gas tanks, and supply LNG fuel for the first test sailings, which are planned for June, Viking Line said.
Following delivery later this year, 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.
