By
Alex Smith |
Tallink Grupp’s new ro-pax ferry MyStar is to be floated out in August at Rauma Marine Constructions’ shipyard in Finland, with the president of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid to be the sponsor of the ship.
MyStar will be christened at an official ceremony at the shipyard using a name chosen after an international naming contest held last year. As with all of Tallink’s ships, a bottle of Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Reservé Brut will be broken against the hull.
“Estonia is a seafaring country and every year, there are more Estonian-flagged vessels that proudly display our national colours,” said President Kaljulaid. “This time, the addition to the fleet of our national-flagged vessels is very special indeed – both in terms of its size and the technology onboard, as well as for aiming to further reduce the emissions. Also, similarly, Tallink plays a special role in the Estonian economy, both as an employer as well as enabling tens of thousands of people to travel to work.”
Construction of MyStar, which at 212 metres long is the largest car and passenger ferry to be built by Rauma Marine Constructions, began at the shipyard in April 2020. The main engines and tanks for LNG fuel have been installed, and the vessel is currently being prepared for the christening.
“MyStar is the seventh and the most energy-efficient vessel that is built or designed for Tallink in Rauma,” said Jyrki Heinimaa, president and CEO of Rauma Marine Constructions. “As a shipbuilding company, our goal is to be the pioneer of environmentally friendly shipping, and we are proud to be driving more sustainable seafaring between Finland and Estonia together with our important and long-term customer.”
MyStar will operate on the route between Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland, joining Tallink’s Megastar. She is scheduled for delivery in 2022.
“For us, this new vessel symbolises new hope for a better future, because ships which are more environmentally friendly and energy efficient mean a cleaner Baltic Sea and better living environment for all of us,” said Paavo Nõgene, CEO of Tallink Grupp. “The tandem of our vessels Megastar and MyStar, which will be operating on the Tallinn-Helsinki route in 2022, will create a green bridge linking Estonia and Finland.”