Keel laid for new RMC RoPax ferry

The Aurora Botnia will be the first ever RoPax ferry with a Clean Design class notation and will operate between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. The vessel will have a hybrid power generation system, as well as an electric propulsion system rarely used in car and passenger ferries.

“RMC wants to be a forerunner in producing holistic solutions with cutting-edge technology. The Clean Design class notation is one example of this,” explained Jyrki Heinimaa, president and chief executive of Rauma Marine Constructions.

The four main engines, supplied by Wärtsilä, will run on both LNG and liquefied biogas, reducing emissions in the Kvarken region of the Gulf of Bothnia The ferry can make use of biogas from a plant in Vaasa, which produces gas from recycled materials and, when the ferry is approaching the harbour or departing, can operate using electrical power supplied by battery.

The ferry will accommodate 800 passengers and will have a freight capacity of 1,500 lane metres for cargo. Construction began in September 2019, and the next milestone will be the launching of the ship in the autumn. The project totals around €120m and the completed vessel will be delivered to owner Wasaline in spring 2021.