By
Laura Hyde |
Tallink Grupp has completed an €8 million ($8.7 million) maintenance and upgrade project on its 212-metre vessel Baltic Princess, with technical maintenance performed by repair yard operator BLRT Grupp, in Naantali, Finland.
The ship, which was built in 2008 by Aker Finnyards Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland, spent just over two weeks in dry dock while numerous interior upgrades were carried out, led by Finnish design agencies Franz Design, Aprocos Interior Design and Design Studio Marjut Nousiainen. Tallink Grupp invested nearly €4 million ($4.35 million) in these interior upgrades while a team from BLRT Grupp carried out technical maintenance.
The ship now offers passengers a redesigned tax-free shopping area with improved accessibility and self-service checkouts, as well as a new tasting section. The 400-square-metre Grill House restaurant features a new design featuring warm natural materials, while the Piano Bar has a new look that blends modern style with timeless elegance.
The new Piano Bar onboard Baltic Princess now offers passengers a modern setting
“We have focused on upgrading the main passenger spaces to offer an even better experience [and] the improvements are immediately noticeable, from redesigned restaurants to more convenient shopping areas,” said Taru Backman, an intendant for Baltic Princess.
The work also included a complete overhaul of both steering gear rudder actuators to enhance manoeuvrability. The ME3 input shaft bearing was replaced and the stabiliser fins underwent a thorough overhaul to optimise stability at sea. A new exterior paint job was also carried out to give Baltic Princess a fresh look.
An energy-saving propeller cap with rotating fins, the Wärtsilä EnergoProFin, was also installed as part of Tallink Grupp’s sustainability initiatives. The EnergoProFin is designed to improve propulsion efficiency by reducing the hub vortex and recovering kinetic energy from the rotating flow aft of the propeller blades. It is hoped the EnergoProFin will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
BLRT Grupp also carried out thruster tunnel liner repairs, along with comprehensive dry dock inspections of the forward and aft bow thrusters. The ship’s fire line was also renewed.
Baltic Princess returns to service on the Tallink Silja Line route between Turku, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden on 19 March 2025, and will operate daily evening departures, as well as ‘Day in Stockholm’ cruises on Mondays.