Finnish shipbuilding company Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) has started construction of a dual-fuel ferry for Kvarken Link.
Kvarken Link said that the construction of the new ferry was marked by a traditional steel-cutting ceremony.
The new vessel will replace the existing Wasa Express in traffic in the spring of 2021 and will be operated by Wasaline.
The ferry, which will operate between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden, will be equipped with a hybrid electric system with batteries and four Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines capable of operating on LNG and biogas.
New Kvarken Link’s vessel will have a passenger capacity of 800 passengers and 1500 lane meters of cargo capacity for trucks and cars.
According to the company, this is the world’s first RoPax ferry with a Clean Design class mark which makes it the most environmentally friendly RoPax vessel so far.
It is worth reminding that RMC signed a letter of intent with the Kvarken Link for the construction of the dual-fuel ferry back in January 2019 .