By
Alex Smith |
Rauma Marine Constructions’ (RMC) has started constructing Tallink Grupp’s new shuttle ferry, MyStar, at its shipyard in Rauma, Finland.
The new 212-metres-long shuttle ferry will be the largest passenger vessel to ever be built at the shipyard and will be able to accommodate up to 3,000 passengers and crew. She will be powered by a dual-fuel solution that can use LNG, and also have an electric propulsion system to allow her to operate efficiently at speeds of up to 27 knots.
“We are proud to start the construction of MyStar, a new vessel which continues the tradition of building ships with our important customer, Tallink Grupp,” said Jyrki Heinimaa, president and CEO of RMC. “This will be the seventh ferry built for Tallink at Rauma. Together, we are developing increasingly environmentally friendly shipping between Finland and Estonia.”
Construction of the ship continues despite the outbreak of Covid-19, which has caused lockdowns to be implemented by governments across the world. The shipyard has taken measures to maintain operations and prevent the spread of the virus, with more work being done remotely in online workspaces.
“The world around us has recently changed beyond recognition and all around us we only see shut-downs, challenges and closure,” said Paavo Nögene, CEO of Tallink Grupp. “Our group, too, is facing challenges, but we are working hard to get through the current situation and are continuing to focus on the future. And one of the key future projects already underway before the crisis was the construction project of our new shuttle, MyStar – one of the most eco-friendly ships on the Baltic Sea. I am therefore pleased to say today that we are able to start this new project in cooperation with our long-standing partner, RMC.”