

Finnish design firm Deltamarin has secured a contract from China-based shipyard Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry (XSI) to provide engineering and construction support services for Viking Line’s new LNG-fuelled ro-pax vessel.
Under the €11m contract, Deltamarin will provide design services for the new vessel concept, which has been developed in collaboration with Viking Line. The firm will also provide comprehensive project management support and supervision services to the shipyard during construction.
Deltamarin's sales manager Nina Savijoki said: "We are very happy about the constructive co-operation with Viking Line.
"From a naval architectural point of view, they presented us with every concept developer’s dream challenge: to come up with a concept that is even more energy efficient in relation to cargo capacity than their MS Viking Grace, one of the most energy-efficient and sophisticated ferries on the market."
The new vessel will be capable of carrying 2,800 passengers and will have an optimised hull shape, energy-efficient systems, and two 24m-high rotor sails.
Viking Line's manager Kari Granberg said: "We have received good support from Deltamarin during the concept development and the worldwide yard selection phase, and look forward to continuing the work together with them and Xiamen Shipyard during the vessel construction."
Following its scheduled delivery in 2020, the new vessel will operate on the route between Finland and Sweden, connecting Turku, the Åland Islands, and Stockholm as part of the EU's Motorways of the Seas project.
Image: Deltamarin to provide detail design and construction support services for Viking Line's new LNG-fuelled ro-pax vessel. Photo: courtesy of Deltamarin