Energy efficiency, flexibility and optimised space availability will be built into Wasaline’s new ferry that will transform freight and passenger connections between Umeå in Sweden and Vaasa in Finland, according to naval architect and design engineering consultant Foreship.
Recently, Kvarken Link converted a letter of intent signed with Finnish builder Rauma Marine Constructions into a firm contract to construct the Super 1A Ice Class ferry by 2021. She will have a capacity of 1,500 lane metres for freight and will accommodate 800 passengers.
“The Vaasa-Umeå route is vital for freight and passengers,” explained Lauri Haavisto, Managing Director, Foreship, “and it creates specific flexibility, stability and efficiency challenges for the ship designer. The ferry needs to maximise lane metres to support freight growth in what is the shortest link between Sweden and Finland but also navigate independently in the challenging ice conditions, while the turning circles in both ports are restricted. Again, depth variations along the four hour transit include shallow stretches, demanding flexibility in machinery performance to maintain schedule.”
Foreship acted as consultants throughout the ferry development process, working closely with the owner’s team from the outset to deliver the concept design, the initial general arrangement, as well as inquiry specification and machinery concepts. In addition, the company acted as technical advisor in the public procurement process.
The ship will feature dual-fuel main engines running mainly on LNG with the option to switch to biogas. In addition, battery power will be fitted to reduce the overall environmental footprint, either by operating with zero emissions in port or by meeting peak load demands more efficiently at sea
