The Finnish Viking XPRS to sail
between Helsinki and Tallinn
Photo: Viking Line
The Viking XPRS swims out from the dock building.
The new Viking Line ship,
filled with water. The finishing touches will
DEPENDABLE TRANSPORT
built for the Helsinki-Tal-
be added to the Viking XPRS outdoors in
IN ALL WEATHERS
Hietalahti.
Viking Line has aimed at combining the
linn route, was named Vi-
The ship will replace the Rosella on
best features of the traditional passenger
the Helsinki-Tallinn route in March 2008.
car ferries and catamarans, such as com-
2007, on the Aker Yards shi-
The Viking XPRS is a concrete expression
fort, service on board, and security, togeth-
pyard in Helsinki. It is a fac-
of faith in the future of passenger traffic
er with a short travelling time around the
tor independent from weat-
with high quality and good food.
year in all weather conditions. Environ-
king XPRS on September 14th,
her conditions in the traffic
between Helsinki and Tallinn,
a means of fast and steady
The Viking XPRS is the first of the
new era ships built by the Finnish shipyard
mental issues and travelling comfort were
emphasised in the design of the ship.
expressly for the Helsinki-Tallinn route. The
Nils-Erik Eklund, Managing Director
ship has received great interest already in
of Viking Line, said in his speech in the
transport from city to city, as
the building stages. This could be seen
naming ceremony: “The future of the Bal-
easy as driving on a bridge.
for example in the number of sugges-
tic Sea is important for coastal states such
tions received for the name competition.
as Finland and Estonia. We are extremely
The competition for the ship’s name drew
dependent on reliable seafaring. The Baltic
in over 16 000 name suggestions. The Vi-
is the passage that connects us to the rest
king Line management chose a name that
M
of Europe. Efficient, competitive and envi-
ore than 700 guests took part in the
even the customers already used as the
ronment-friendly sea transport is crucial.
naming ceremony that took place
working name.
We should take care of the unique nature
inside the shipyard building. Singer Paula
The Viking Line management chose
of the Baltic. Environmental issues have
Koivuniemi, who arrived in a long white
to keep the working name already familiar
therefore played a central part in the de-
limousine, was the godmother of the ship.
to the customers, Viking XPRS, because it
sign of the Viking XPRS. We are truly hap-
Once the champagne bottle had been bro-
symbolises the adjectives that best describe
py to be able to use the best and most en-
ken on the ship’s side, the dock basin was
the ship: fast, modern, and dependable.
vironment-friendly technologies.”
30
seatec 2008