Tallink Grupp to order LNG powered ship for Tallinn-Helsinki route

Photo: tallink.com

The listed Estonian shipper Tallink Grupp and Meyer Turku have signed a letter of intent on the construction of a new passenger ferry using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel for the Tallinn-Helsinki route.

The ship will cost around 230 million euros and it will be built at the Turku shipyard in Finland for delivery early in 2017, the company said. The project represents approximately 2,000 man-years employment for the shipyard.

The new ferry will be about 212 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 49,000. The ship that can carry 2,800 passengers will be put into service on the route between Helsinki and Tallinn, Tallink said.

The ship will use LNG as fuel and comply with all the new, more stringent emission requirements for emission control areas including the Baltic Sea.

«A series of six ferries has been delivered to Tallink between years 2002-2009 and this ship will be the seventh newbuilding for the same shipowner. This new ferry prototype gives us an excellent opportunity to apply improved design and building methods. For all these reasons this letter of intent signed today is very important to Meyer Turku and to the entire Finnish shipbuilding cluster,» CEO of Meyer Turku Jan Meyer said.

With the new ferry Tallink aims for an upgrade of the Tallinn-Helsinki route ferry service, management board member Janek Stalmeister said. «As the market leader and a long-time operator on the route we have a good understanding of customer expectations and know what needs improvement. I am confident that the world-class experience of Meyer Turku will be once again a valuable asset for us, delivering a high quality new ferry which will strengthen our competitive advantages,» he added.

Tallink Grupp and Meyer Turku will work towards the shipbuilding contract and financing arrangements over the next few months.