Finland’s Viking Line recently notched a world first when it launched Viking Grace, the most environmentally friendly large passenger ship, at STX Finland Turku shipyard.
The 56,000 gt vessel is powered by LNG and generates no marine emissions and very few air emissions. The vessel has been designed to operate in the delicate and environmentally sensitive waters of the Baltic Sea where she will operate between Turku and Stockholm from January, 2013.
Lloyd’s Register played a significant role in helping the vessel’s owners and builders work through the complexities of its novel design features such as LNG tanks on the stern deck and four Wartsila 8L50DF engines and to meet regulatory, class and operational requirements.
It will be Viking Line’s new flagship and will redefine ferry travel. And there is nothing else either being built or even ordered yet that comes close to the energy requirements of Viking Grace.
[mappress]
Press Release, October 15, 2012; Image: stx