Passenger ferry will operate between Tallinn in Estonia and Helsinki in Finland from early 2017
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Meyer Turku is to construct an LNG-powered fast ferry for Tallink Grupp.
Designed to operate on the route between Tallinn in Estonia and Helsinki in Finland, the 212m fast ferry will accommodate 2,800 passengers and will be delivered in early 2017 for a cost of €230 million. The project will provide around 2,000 man-years of employment for the shipyard.
“Meyer Turku is very happy to continue the long and good tradition to build ferries for Tallink and with our new and advanced LNG propulsion plant, we are lifting this partnership to the next technological level,” said Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku. “With this contract we increase our output by 30% in 2016, which is good news for the shipyard, its suppliers and the entire region.“
Powered by LNG fuel, the 49,000gt ferry will comply with the new sulphur limits in emission control areas, such as the Baltic Sea. The ship will have a service speed of 27 knots, while her hull has been designed to minimise water resistance and enable her to operate in icy conditions.
“We have brought a new understanding to the fast ferry services with the Shuttle concept and now the time is right to take the next step,” said Janek Stalmeister, CEO of Tallink Grupp. “We have learned from our own experience, listened to our customers and experts and we are now very excited about the end result.”