Finnish marine equipment manufacturer Wärtsilä has entered an agreement to provide maintenance services for Estonia-based Tallink Grupp's RoPax ferry, M/S Megastar.

The new five-year deal also includes maintenance and optimisation of M/S Megastar’s engines, as well as the supply of spare parts and Wärtsilä’s condition based maintenance (CBM) services, in addition to round-the-clock online support.

Wärtsilä will continuously monitor the condition of M/S Megastar’s dual-fuel engines via CBM and analyse the received data to determine service and maintenance requirements, ensuring optimal engine performance and reduced operating expenses.

Wärtsilä’s round-the-clock online operational and technical support will also allow the company to easily provide fast remote assistance when and where it is needed.

Tallink Grupp head of ship management Tarvi-Carlos Tuulik said: “Wärtsilä as a maintenance partner ensures that all maintenance is conducted in the highest standards of quality, safety and reliability.

“The predictability of maintenance costs helps us to optimise our operations and the availability of instant online support increases the vessel’s availability.

"The predictability of maintenance costs helps us to optimise our operations and the availability of instant online support increases the vessel’s availability."

“With continuous monitoring and condition based maintenance, our passengers can enjoy their voyage without any unexpected interruptions.”

M/S Megastar has already been deployed on the route across the Gulf of Finland from Tallinn, Estonia to Helsinki, Finland. The vessel is powered by Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines that operate primarily on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The ship also features two Wärtsilä fixed-pitch propellers and propeller shaft lines, new-generation Wärtsilä Nacos Platinum integrated navigation system and external communication facilities.

Wärtsilä has also signed a separate €900m, 12-year performance-based agreement with Carnival to carry out engine maintenance and monitoring work for 79 of the cruise line's vessels.

Image: Tallink Grupp’s new vessel M/S Megastar. Photo: courtesy of Wärtsilä.