By
Rebecca Gibson |
Former president of Finland Tarja Halonen christened Tallink Grupp’s new LNG fast ferry Megastar at Meyer Turku’s shipyard in Turku on 1 July.
Meyer Turku, which began cutting the steel for Megastar on 4 August 2015 and laying the keel on 9 February 2016, is halfway through completing the vessel. The float out is expected to happen later this month, while sea trials are planned for late 2016. The vessel will be delivered at the start of 2017.
“The ship as such is coming together and so are the new and innovative services we prepare to surprise our passengers with that particular vessel in terms of renewing the Tallink Shuttle concept,” Janek Stalmeister, CEO of Tallink Grupp. “We are also very honoured for having President Halonen as the godmother, as this is a high acknowledgement to the ship`s exceptionally developed environmental indicators.
Megastar, which will be 212m in length and weigh 49,000gt, will have the same capacity as Tallink’s largest cruise ferry, Baltic Queen, allowing her to accommodate 2,800 passengers. Passenger amenities will include dining areas, lounges, shops and more.
Designed to operate on the route between Tallinn in Estonia and Helsinki in Finland, Megastar will primarily operate on LNG fuel, eliminating sulphur and soot emissions and significantly decreasing nitrogen and carbon dioxide emissions. This will ensure she complies with the current and future emission regulations in Emission Control Areas, such as the Baltic Sea.
“Tallink Megastar is custom designed for Tallink’s passengers and is in that sense unique,” said Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku. “Hence we are delighted that Tallink has chosen a traditional naming ceremony and even more happy as former president Tarja Halonen is honouring us with her presence.”