Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions said the new LNG-powered ferry Aurora Botnia it is building for compatriot Wasaline has completed its sea trials.
The car and passenger ferry, which will operate on the route between the Finnish city of Vaasa and the Swedish city of Umea, completed its first sea trials last weekend.
Rauma says that preparations are underway for the handover of Aurora Botnia in Vaasa, Finland.
“The date of the handover, the maiden voyage and the start of ticket sales will be announced next week,” the shipyard said.
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 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, 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, 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.