Viking Line is preparing to launch an emissions-free service between Helsinki and Tallinn.
The shipping company said that its vessel concept is proof that a green maritime corridor across the Gulf of Finland could be realised as early as the beginning of the 2030s.
The concept, named Helios, would be the world’s largest electric passenger/car ferry.
With a battery capacity of around 85–100 MWh, Helios could transport 2,000 passengers across the Gulf of Finland in just over two hours.
Helios has been designed to be 195 m in length, with a width of 30 m and the speed of about 23 knots.
The freight capacity on board is around 2 km of lane metres.
Helios is based on a research by Viking Line and Rauma shipyard, as well as other partners. The concept is specifically designed for the Helsinki/Tallinn route as the 80 km (or 43 nautical mile) route is ideally suited for electric vessels, Viking said.
The electric vessel will always be charged while she is in port at a charging capacity of over 30 MW/h.
“Helios heralds a new era in maritime transport, just like the first sail, steam, and motor ships did in their time. The concept proves that large-scale emission-free maritime transport is no longer a utopia.
“The world’s largest fully electric passenger-car ferries could be in operation as early as the beginning of the next decade. We are strongly committed to realising the ambitious vision that Helios represents,” said Viking Line’s CEO, Jan Hanses.
Over the years, Viking Line has invested hundreds of millions of euros in groundbreaking technologies.
For example, ‘Viking Grace’, delivered in 2013, was the world’s first passenger ship to use both LNG and biogas as fuel.
In 2022, ‘Viking Grace’ was joined by an even more climate-smart vessel, ‘Viking Glory’.
Through these ships, Viking Line’s travellers can now choose biofuel for an additional fee, thereby reducing the emissions from their trip by 90%. In addition, Viking Line’s first freight customers have signed agreements to use biofuel.
Emission-free shipping in the Gulf of Finland is promoted by the FIN-EST Green Corridor project, launched by the cities of Helsinki and Tallinn, whose founders and members also include both of the cities’ ports, Estonia’s Ministry of Climate and the companies, Viking Line, Rederi AB Eckerö and Tallink Grupp.
“It is great that both cities and their ports have committed to creating a green maritime corridor. Electric shipping is not created solely by ship investments. It also requires efficient, reliable charging infrastructure in ports.
“The home port for the new electric vessels would be Jätkäsaari, where the Port of Helsinki has a development and expansion programme underway until 2032. The progress of this project is extremely important for our own plans,” Hanses said.
According to the Port of Helsinki’s forecasts, passenger traffic between the city’s West Harbour and Tallinn will increase from 5.5 mill passengers in 2024 to 11.6 mill by 2040. Also, cargo volumes are expected to grow significantly.
“The Helsinki/Tallinn route performed particularly well last year, and we believe volume will continue to increase – there is strong demand, based on need, for connections between Finland and the Baltics.
“EU emissions trading fees and tightening regulations place an ever larger burden on fossil fuel-based maritime traffic every year, but emission-free technology would enable us to increase capacity on the route.
“Our goal is to order two electric ships for the route, which would double our current capacity year-round,” Hanses explained.
This spring, Viking Line submitted a funding application to the EU’s Innovation Fund for the construction of a ferry.
