Author: Suvi Mannonen

Taking only one week to install, Azipod® propulsion will ensure sustainable performance for Wasaline’s new ferry Aurora Botnia, while achieving up to four days of annual time savings due to operational efficiency
The new ferry, launched by the Finnish shipyard Rauma Marine Constructions, will be operated by Wasaline on the world’s northernmost all-year passenger route between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. Entering service in 2021, Aurora Botnia will have the capacity to transport 800 passengers and up to 1,500 lane meters of trucks and cars, completing two round trips per day in high season.

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Passenger-specific carbon-dioxide figures for 2018 have been calculated on Finnlines’ passenger routes, Naantali–Kapellskär, Malmö–Travemünde and Helsinki–Travemünde. The figures will be updated on a yearly basis and this will be the base for future calculations.

International legislation and Finnlines’ figures

The EU regulation on the monitoring, reporting and verification of CO2 emissions (MRV, EU 2015/757, EN 16258) became fully effective in 2018. Globally, IMO’s similar Data Collection System will start in 2019.

The Finnlines’ passenger-specific route figures are calculated on the basis of MRV data for 2018 verified by the authorities. Finnlines’ figures have been verified by official certification society. 

Finnlines’ ro-pax vessels carry both passengers and freight, and thus the total annual fuel and emission data is divided between these categories. The MRV standard (EN 16258) allows to select between two methods: the mass and area method. Since Finnlines’ operations are mostly concentrated in cargo and freight, it is logical that Finnlines uses the mass method where the freight / passenger ratio is allocated annually according to carried freight and passenger.

The total CO2 emissions of the Finnlines’ fleet have reduced by approximately 30%in 2018 compared to 2008. Route-specific reductions can even be more due to better capacity utilisation.

In 2018, CO2 emissions per passenger on routes:

• Naantali–Kapellskär was 13–14 kg CO2/passenger (MS Finnswan, MS Finnfellow) 
• Malmö–Travemünde was 15–16 kg CO2/passenger (MS Europalink, MS Finnpartner, MS Finntrader)
• Helsinki–Travemünde was 69–79 kg CO2/passenger (MS Finnlady, MS Finnmaid, MS Finnstar).

Differences are due to passenger numbers and, for example, weather conditions and route choices.

Clear emission goals & new eco-efficient ships

Finnlines supports the IMO’s (International Maritime Organization) GHG strategy and its goal to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.

Finnlines is committed to long-term efforts for the environment. Environmental responsibility is part of the daily operations of the Company and includes everyday actions – like timetable and route planning or running on optimal speed, load and trim. 

In addition, Finnlines will have up to five new vessels which have been designed taking all environmental factors into account. And thus, overall Finnlines’ fleet carbon footprint can be reduced further. Three of the vessels are green battery-hybrid ro-ro vessels which, for example, will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries that will recharge during sea voyage. The stored electricity can be used while in port, making the port stay emission-free. Two of the vessels are next generation Superstar ro-pax vessels which will use modern emission-reducing technology and other advanced systems, thus resulting in less emissions. The first vessels in both series are expected to start in traffic in 2021–2022.

Approximately 90% of Finland’s exports and 80% of imports is transported via seaways and particularly for processed goods frequent liner traffic is important. Finnlines’ ro-pax service combines cargo and passenger traffic in an eco-efficient way and the high utilisation rate in routes and vessels guarantees the possibility to travel in a sustainable and responsible way.

Finnlines Plc

Finnlines is one of the leading shipping operators of ro-ro services in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and the Bay of Biscay as well as a passenger service provider in the Baltic. The Company is a part of the Grimaldi Group, one of the world’s largest operators of ro-ro vessels and the largest operator of the Motorways of the Sea in Europe for both passengers and freight. This affiliation enables Finnlines to offer liner services to and from any destination in the Mediterranean, West Africa as well as the Atlantic coast of both North and South America.

FIND US ONLINE

www.finnlines.com

Finnlines invests in ultra-clean vessels – five new environmentally friendly vessels 

During the past decade, Finnlines has made a whole series of concrete investments totalling EUR 1 billion, including actions to promote environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. These actions include the renewal of the fleet with larger vessels, emission abatement system installations on 21 ships, fleet changes and route optimisation, fuel monitoring and slow steaming, silicone anti-fouling treatments, propulsion improvement and vessel lengthening investments. All investments were aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions per transported tonne. 

In 2018, Finnlines completed its EUR 70 million programme under which six ro-ro vessels were lengthened, and the achieved 30% capacity increase will reduce energy consumption per transported unit compared to the original vessel.

Three ultra-clean ro-ro vessels

Finnlines continues to invest in increasing its vessel capacity and has ordered three ro-ro vessels from the Chinese Jinling shipyard. Their delivery is expected from 2021–2022. These new technology vessels are 238 metres long and will each have a cargo capacity of 5,800 lane metres. The vessels will be a new kind of hybrid ro-ro vessels – they will use fossil fuel during sailing but only electricity restored in lithium-ion battery bank while in port, and hence guaranteeing ‘zero emissions in port’. In addition, an innovative air lubrication system under the keel will create bubble layers which will reduce friction and hydrodynamic resistance and, consequently, reduce fuel consumption and emissions as well. Optimised energy efficiency is ensured with the hull lines and propellers, including the most advanced integrated propeller-rudder systems.

Two Superstar ro-pax vessels

Furthermore, Finnlines is working on developing a new Superstar ro-pax class concept. These vessels will also be equipped with emission abatement and other advanced fuel consumption and emission reduction systems. Also, alternative fuels are considered. The company aims towards increased energy efficiency and reduced emissions. The deliveries of these vessels are likely to take place in 2021–2022.

“We continue to modernize our fleet further. These investments will also help us to meet increased demand and enable us to serve our customers better. These green ro-ro vessels will be built taking all technological and environmental factors into account and thus will increase our energy efficiency further. These vessels will offer us the lowest possible fuel consumption and exhaust emissions and again, is in line with our investments in sustainable development. We are proud that these exceptional technologies on board will make the vessels the most innovative and efficient vessels in the world”, says Emanuele Grimaldi, CEO of Finnlines. 

Finnlines Plc

Finnlines is a leading shipping operator of ro-ro and passenger services in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and Bay of Biscay. The Company is a part of the Grimaldi Group, one of the world’s largest operators of ro-ro vessels and the largest operator of the Motorways of the Sea in Europe for both passengers and freight. This affiliation enables Finnlines to offer liner services to and from any destination in the Mediterranean, West Africa as well as the Atlantic coast of both North and South America.

FIND US ONLINE

www.finnlines.com

Thanks to its advanced solutions and technical innovations, M/S Viking Glory will be one of the most climate-smart passenger ships in the world. It is estimated that the ship will consume up to 10% less fuel than M/S Viking Grace, which is smaller and was hailed as the world’s most eco-friendly ship of its time.

Viking Glory will launch into service in 2021 as the first ship in the world to be equipped with Wärtsilä 31DF dual fuel engines, which utilise the latest technology and run on completely sulphur-free liquefied natural gas (LNG). As with Viking Grace, Viking Glory will also have the ability to run on biogas, once it becomes a viable fuel alternative in the future.

“Viking Glory will have six 31DF engines for efficient optimisation of fuel consumption. These engines have the lowest fuel consumption, but at the same time, the highest cylinder output in their segment (550 kW/cylinder),” explains Project Manager Kari Granberg, who is in charge of the new construction at Viking Line.

Viking Glory will also, as the first in the world, recover the waste cold from the use of LNG and recycle it for use in cold counters, cold rooms and other special rooms.

“Today, recovery of waste heat is already common, but to recycle waste cold for the purposes of refrigeration appliances and cold rooms is an innovative and highly climate-smart solution. Viking Line has carried out development work in collaboration with Wärtsilä, Projektia and Deltamarin,” Granberg continues.

Additionally, Viking Glory will be equipped with a Climeon energy recycling system that harnesses and converts waste heat from the engines into electricity. The system can generate up to 40% of the electricity required for the passenger functions. Moreover, a dynamic air conditioning and lighting system will be installed onboard, which will have a direct effect on energy consumption. This system will be controlled by the booking system: if a cabin remains empty at departure, it will be set in a power-saving mode, thereby minimising air-conditioning and heating for that particular cabin.

This also marks the first time when a passenger ship of this kind utilises the Azipod propulsion unit manufactured by ABB as a means of saving time and energy in terms of ship manoeuvring: the system facilitates faster turns in the ports and a hull design with approximately 8% less water resistance than with a traditional propeller system.

“Viking Line endeavours to be a forerunner of responsible navigation, and this goal is reflected in the design and construction of our new ships. Those technological innovations we are now testing and developing jointly with our Nordic partners constitute the foundation for the novel cruise experiences through the archipelago,” says Gustaf Eklund, who is Head of Development at Viking Line and in charge of developing the concept for the new ship.

Technological innovations onboard M/S Viking Glory in brief:

The dual fuel engines by Wärtsilä will enable better optimisation of fuel consumption.

The use of LNG will result in zero sulphur emissions and reduced carbon dioxide emissions as compared to diesel fuel.

Waste cold from LNG use will be recovered and recycled for cold counters, cold rooms and other special rooms.

The energy recycling system by Climeon is estimated to generate up to 40 percent of the electricity required for passenger functions.

The Azipod propeller system by ABB will save time and fuel in terms of ship manoeuvring. Viking Glory will be the first passenger ship of this kind in the world to utilise this propeller system.

The dynamic air conditioning and lighting system will save energy. Certain rooms are equipped with sensors. When these rooms are not occupied, the lights are switched off automatically. Similarly, air conditioning is reduced automatically when the rooms are not used for a while.

Tallink Grupp has today announced that the name of the new Tallinn-Helsinki route shuttle vessel, which will be built at Rauma shipyard in Finland and is due to be completed by the end of 2021, will be MySTAR. The name for the vessel was proposed as an entry in the vessel naming competition by a Finnish national.

The shipping company ran a naming competition for the new vessel this summer and the final decision regarding the name was made by the company’s Management Board in September.

More than 2,800 entries were received for the naming competition from 30 countries from across the world. The biggest number of entries was received from Tallink Grupp’s home markets of Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden with Finnish shipping enthusiasts submitting the most entries.

Although the proposed names varied greatly, a large number of the entries contained the words „star“ and „Baltic“ in them and, compared to the naming competition held a few years ago for naming the Megastar, this time there was a significant increase in the number of names containing some reference to eco-friendliness, i.e. variations of „eco“ and „green“.

Tallink Grupp’s CEO Paavo Nõgene was delighted with the level of interest in the naming of the company’s new vessel. „We never doubted the interest people in this region have in shipping and knew that many people around the Baltic sea would take up the opportunity to write their name in the region’s shipping history by proposing the winning name to our vessel. But we never knew there were so many shipping fans also wider afield, who all submitted some great names as well,“ he commented.
 
„Choosing the winning name was not easy for us as there were many great proposals, but ultimately we wanted to carry on with the tradition that our shuttle vessels are „stars“ of the Baltic Sea, so that narrowed the selection somewhat. And why we opted for MySTAR – well, because the new vessel is shaped by everyone who travels with it, so everyone can feel that this vessel is part of them,“ Nõgene added.

The name MySTAR was submitted to the naming competition by Marietta Kähärä from Finland, who will now receive a gift box of Tallink 30 goods and will be invited to join the ship on its maiden voyage as a prize.

In addition to the more common names for a vessel, the competition also received more unconventional entries for the new vessel’s name, such as M/S Ott Tänak, M/S Marie Under, Speedy Gonzales, Great Finland, Queen Suomi, Suomenlinna, Mega Tallsinki Express, Kalevipoeg, King Kong, Eri Klas, Tunnel, Vana Toomas, Sibelius, Megafast and many others.

And no vessel naming competition would be complete without the proposal Boaty McBoatface, which was also submitted for this competition together with Shuttle McShuttleface.

For more information, please contact:

Katri Link
Communications Director
Tallink Grupp
Tel. +372 53042121
E-mail: katri.link@tallink.ee

Tallink Grupp
AS Tallink Grupp is one of the leading providers of passenger transport and cargo transport services in the northern part of the Baltic Sea region. The company owns 14 vessels and operates seven ferry routes under the brand names of Tallink and Silja Line. AS Tallink Grupp employs over 7,400 people in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Russia and Germany. In 2018, Tallink Grupp provided services to 9.8 million travellers and transported approximately 385,000 freight units of goods. The shares of Tallink Grupp are listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange.

Minister of Transport and Communications Sanna Marin has appointed a working group to prepare Finland’s roadmap for fossil-free transport. The term of the working group will be from 1 November 2019 to 30 October 2020.

Prime Minister Rinne’s Government is committed to halving transport emissions by 2030. Attainment of the goal requires a wide range of measures and the commitment of all transport operators to reducing emissions.

“The aim is to create a range of means for cutting transport emissions by half over the next decade. The solutions must be ecologically, financially and socially sustainable. A large number of various actors in society have been invited to participate in the work and I hope that the sector will show strong commitment to reducing emissions,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Sanna Marin.

The task of the working group is to identify the necessary milestones along the way to fossil-free transport and to assess the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the various measures. The roadmap will also cover the emissions reduction commitments made in the different fields of the transport sector.

In recent years, the critical nature of transport emissions reductions has been highlighted, because the technological development as well as the advances in fuel technology provide a lot of potential to reduce emissions in the transport sector. Transport emissions accounted for one fifth of Finland’s total emissions in 2018. The majority of transport emissions, more than 90%, come from road transport. Maritime emissions are about four per cent and domestic aviation emissions are about two per cent. Air transport is part of the EU emissions trading scheme. Rail transport accounts for less than one per cent of the transport emissions.
The working group will be chaired by Sabina Lindström, Director General of the Network Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The group has members from ministries, NGOs and companies. 

The group has representatives from the Trade Union Pro, Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (ATCF), Transport Workers’ Union AKT, Association of Automobile Industry in Finland, Finnish Biocycle and Biogas Association, Finnish Energy, Finnish Federation for Communications and Teleinformatics FiCom, Finavia Corporation, Finnair Plc, ITS Finland, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, Finnish Bus and Coach Association, Association of Logistics Companies, Finnish Marine Industries, Finnish Cyclists’ Federation, Finnish Transport and Logistics SKAL, Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, Finnish Port Association, Finnish Shipowners’ Association, Finnish Taxi Owners’ Federation, Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, VR Group, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of the Environment. In addition, group members include experts from the Climate Panel, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. If necessary, other members may be invited to the working group during its term of office.

A representative to the group was also asked from WWF and an expert member from the VATT Institute for Economic Research.

What next?

The working group will start its work in November. There will be various consultations and a request for comments regarding the roadmap for fossil-free transport. The government plenary session is due to discuss the roadmap in autumn 2020. 

Inquiries:

Henrik Haapajärvi, Special Adviser to Minister Marin, tel. +358 50 339 2604 
Sabina Lindström, Director General, tel. +358 40 527 6103
Päivi Antikainen, Director of Unit, tel. +358 50 382 7101
firstname.lastname@lvm.fiLinks to other web sites:

• Gateway to Information on Government Projects: Roadmap to fossil-free transport (LVM050:00/2019) (in Finnish)
• Government Action Plan. Inclusive and competent Finland – a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society

Following Wärtsilä’s partnership with PSA Marine on developing the project of IntelliTug, both partners achieved a milestone after conducting the first trials at the Port of Singapore under real-world condition.

The newly-launched Dynamic Positioning (DP) system, also called “the Joystick Maneuvering System (JMS)” provides an easier use of the tug; The master can press a button and acquire anchoring digitalization. With Lloyd Register’s approval for the implementation phase, the standards in the safety and vessel’s autonomy have been set much higher.

An additional advantage of the DP system is that it boosts the IntelliTug project, by enabling digital navigation instructions to proceed into the vessel’s propulsion system.

The IntelliTug project is about discovering smarter, safer, and more efficient ways of operating a harbour tug. It incorporates human-centric technology, design thinking, and man–machine collaboration. We are on a journey of turning today’s ideas into tomorrow’s reality.

…noted the Head of Fleet Management at PSA Marine, Bernard Wong.

For the records, PSA Marine plays a vital role in shipping industry, as a leader in providing marine services with flagship operations in Singapore. To meet the expectations of this growing port, Wärtsilä and PSA Marine focus on testing intelligent vessel capabilities to ensure sustainability and autonomy in tug’s operations.

The IntelliTug is now developing a smart tug which increases the tug master’s autonomy, by automatically performing a variety of routine missions.

Safety and productivity are key areas being improved with our autonomous vessel technology. As we develop and learn from these technologies, the values we are able to provide to our customers will grow exponentially, providing a very clear path for businesses needing to compete in the new intelligent maritime industry.

…continued Paul Kendall, Wärtsilä’s  Director of Sales and Dynamic Positioning.

Concluding, in the following months, Wärtsilä and PSA Marine will keep developing the IntelliTug project, by testing and trialing in Singapore port waters.

Deltamarin is strengthening its position as a trusted designer of ro-pax vessels with the latest contract signed with Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC). The contract covers basic and detail design services for Tallink’s new LNG-powered shuttle ferry set to operate between Helsinki in Finland and Tallinn in Estonia.

The Tallink shuttle ferry is the biggest vessel yet to be built by RMC. It will accommodate 2,800 passengers and will have 1,900 lane meters for road vehicles. Utilising the newest technology and innovative solutions, the ferry will be extremely environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient. It will run on dual fuel with the main source of fuel being low-emission LNG. The ferry is expected to be delivered early in 2022.

Deltamarin’s commission covers basic and detail design services for the hull, machinery and electrical systems. The value of the contract with RMC is about €7.5M. The work will be carried out over a period of about 16-18 months at Deltamarin’s offices in Finland and Poland with the assistance of network companies.

“We are very pleased to continue our fruitful cooperation with Deltamarin. Rauma Marine Constructions’ aim is to be a leading car and passenger ferry provider, and our extensive network of strategic partners plays a vital role in achieving this. We look forward to working together with Deltamarin and providing Tallink with this state-of-the-art, modern and environmentally-friendly vessel,” said Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO of Rauma Marine Constructions.

“Naturally we are very happy and proud to participate in this ferry project and continue our strategic partnership with RMC. We look forward to further developing cooperation with the yard, providing them with excellent services,” said Deltamarin CEO, Janne Uotila.

One Sea, the industry alliance bringing together leading exponents of autonomous ship technology, has made a significant addition to its growing membership, after signing up Awake.AI – a company led by an experienced team of maritime digital innovators.

Awake.AI is aiming to create a new platform and ML models (Machine learning) based on transparent data sharing to break down the barriers between ships, ports and other actors in the maritime logistics chain. The ‘virtual infrastructure’ will be vital if ports are to handle autonomous ships successfully from pre-arrival, through cargo operations and to onward departure, according to the Finnish start-up.

“Today’s data silos result from legacy systems developed when interoperability wasn’t a pressing need,” says Awake.AI CEO, Karno Tenovuo. “Moving forward, the more information is shared, the greater are the opportunities to automate. Our task is to develop the digital handshakes (APIs) between different supply-chain actors, freeing data to enable smarter ships and ensure their acceptance by smart ports.”

Jukka Merenluoto, Ecosystem Lead, One Sea, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Awake.AI on board: enabling the smooth flow of data between different players is integral to One Sea’s roadmap to transition from remote monitoring to remote control, and to increasing vessel autonomy by 2025. We also advocate the benefits of maritime digitalisation in its own right, to minimise incidents, decrease marine traffic’s environmental footprint and improve commercial efficiency.”

Drawing on experience from digital innovators that include Nokia, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce Marine, Aker and academia, Awake.AI leverages collective expertise in intelligent and autonomous ship systems, AI data pipelines, system architecture, cloud and network design and cyber security.

Joining One Sea brings Awake.AI into a commercially neutral industry cluster that already plays host to the technology leaders in autonomous shipping, including ABB, Cargotec, Ericsson, Inmarsat, Kongsberg Maritime, MTI, Tieto and Wärtsilä as well as a range of other maritime stakeholders.

“Our membership includes the well-established technology firms making the running on autonomous ships, but it is important we accommodate newer players, like Awake.AI, who can bring fresh perspectives on how to meet the challenges on the road towards realising workable autonomous solutions,” says Merenluoto.

Awake.AI’s Tenovuo adds: “Already, we are having conversations with One Sea stakeholders from across the ecosystem to work through strategies to create standards and pathways that will facilitate autonomous shipping.”

In a pilot project onboard MARIELLA, Viking Line has managed to reduce the amount of food waste by an estimated 27 tonnes in four months.
The food saved corresponds to almost 70,000 servings.
Food waste has been weighed and the data have been recorded.
“Now we have managed to reduce food waste per passenger by an average of 40 percent,” says Viking Line’s restaurant manager Janne Lindholm. “Savings have been made in particular by streamlining the work in the kitchen. We had a greater attention to the prepared quantities prepared. For example, in the buffet restaurant, passengers are served ready-made portions.”

The remaining waste is used for biogas production. With the help of bio-waste
from three ferries, we made biogas, the equivalent of 111,300 liters of MDO.