Photos: Sini Pennanen
Running on liquefied natural gas (LNG), Viking Line’s new cruise ship
– M/S ’Viking Grace’ – is considered to be the most environmentally
friendly cruise ferry ever built.
The hydrodynamic hull decreases fuel consumption and minimises wave
formation, thereby protecting the vulnerable archipelago areas of the Baltic
Sea. The ship raised anchor for its maiden voyage from Turku to Stockholm
on 13 January, 2013, and started regular service on 15 January.
I
n September 2011, STX Finland Oy’s
had extensive experience of building large
Port specifications has been taken into ac-
Turku shipyard started the production
cruise ships, this one was the very first to
count.
of a new-generation cruise ferry to be built
for Viking Line.
utilise LNG fuel.
The ship is powered by four dual-
Within the Baltic Sea region, the
fuel Wärtsilä 8L50DF main engines yield-
Even before this, it was known that
forthcoming International Maritime Or-
ing 30 400 kW of engine power. The mo-
M/S ’Viking Grace’ would be 214 metres
ganisation (IMO) regulations will be very
tor cooling water is utilised for heating
in length and carry approximately 2 800
strict. The use of LNG fuel provides major
domestic water and for producing clean
passengers plus a 200-member crew. The
environmental advantages: by utilising nat-
water from sea-water.
ship would be equipped with two sepa-
ural gas, the hazardous emissions will de-
Because of a new noise-reduction
rate engine rooms – as a safety feature –
crease to a minimum. For Viking Line’s new
technique, the ship is very quiet while on
and the number of cabins would be 880.
ship, all pollution into the sea was elim-
the sea and in the harbour. The glass in
inated, as were practically all SOx emis-
the ship’s windows has a high insulation
sions into the air.
capacity.
ALL EMISSIONS
MINIMISED
Also, maritime safety of the new
For STX Finland’s Turku shipyard, building
cruise ferry was designed in accord-
FUEL TERMINAL IS STILL
the ship took approximately 2 600 man-
ance with the latest international regu-
ON THE DRAWING BOARD
years of labour. While the shipyard already
lations. For instance, the Safe Return to
The number of LNG fuelled ships around
8
seatec 1/2013