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Production of New Concept Ferry Begins at Aker
October 3, 2006

The production of Viking XPRS, a new type of fast car passenger ferry, was started in Aker Yards, Turku on October 3 by Nils-Erik Eklund, CEO Viking Line pushing the button of the cutting machine with Yrjö Julin, President of Aker Yards Cruise & Ferries wittnessing the forming of the first plate for Aker Yards newbuilding No. 1358.

The contract by Aker Yards and Viking Line Abp was signed on November 30, 2005 to deliver this fast ferry in January 2008. The value of the contract is approximately $164.9m (130 million euro.)

The new ferry represents an entirely new concept in Baltic Sea ferry service, bringing together the best qualities of conventional car ferries and catamarans. The emphasis will be on customer comfort, eg. modern innovative restaurants and a high class conference centre. The environmentally friendly fast ferry designed to carry passengers and cars between Helsinki and Tallinn is intended for year-around service regardless of weather conditions. The 607 x 91 ft. vessel will be taking 2,500 passengers, and driven by 40 MW engines giving the vessel a speed of 25 knots.

MarineLink

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See also:

Viking Line signs LOI with Aker Finnyards for pax ferry

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[...]

The new vessel will be built to the highest Finnish ice class, with high engine output to guarantee regular traffic around the year in any weather conditions. The newbuilding project was preceded by four years of planning and research.

The newbuilding will serve the Helsinki-Tallinn route, where demand has boomed since Estonia joined the European Union in May 2004. The passenger volume to Tallinn is continuously growing. During the summer months of this year alone Viking Line's passenger numbers on this route increased by more than 50,000 people and the number of cars by over 60 per cent.

Viking XPRS is a modern vessel with flexible solutions. It will have two separate car decks, one of which is reserved for passenger cars only. This deck is placed near the cabin decks and shopping facilities. The loading will be simplified, as trucks are on separate deck.

Viking XPRS will be exceptionally environmentally-friendly.

• All main engines and auxiliary engines will be equipped with catalytic cleaning systems
  
• No waste water-- neither black, gray nor bilge water--will be pumped overboard. Everything will be collected into the ship's tanks and pumped ashore.
  
• All fuel tanks are protectively located above the double bottom..
  
• All waste fractions intended to be handled separately will be collected in their own containers, taken ashore separately and handled there according to valid regulations. All solid waste will be crushed, collected in appropriate containers and taken separately ashore. Food waste will be separated from other waste, crushed and collected in a tank, and then pumped to a tank truck and taken ashore.
  
• The noise level of the vessel will be very low.
  
• No toxic paint will be used to keep the vessel's bottom clear; the bottom will be regularly brushed clean by divers.
  

Viking XPRS is intended to satisfy the needs of many different customer groups, including passengers with or without a car, one-way passengers, cruise passengers or conference guests.

For conference guests the vessel offers high-quality conference rooms with many flexible solutions. The restaurant concepts will be innovative and modern, fully adapted to the needs of this route. The large taxfree shop offers a wide selection for shopping. Dance-lovers will find a number of attractive dance floors.

For interior design, Viking Line chose the Finnish architect Lasse Heikkinen who has previously designed several luxury cruisers and hotels, and architectural agency Tillberg Design, with a world reputation in the cruise liner industry and which has worked with Viking Line in all new vessel projects since the late 1980s.

Technical data:

Passenger certificate: 2,500
Vehicle deck: Two separate vehicle decks, including one for cars only
Length: 185 m
Width: 27.7 m
Draft: 6.55 m
Gross tonnage: 34,000
Engine output: 40,000 kW
Cruising speed: 25 knots
Finnish ice class: 1 A super

MarineLog

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Originally posted by Waynaro:
Ferries are starting to look like cruise ships from the outside...even sleeker!

And inside, sounds like passengers are going to feel like cruise ships. I wonder if Viking Line has plans in the future to use this class of ships for cruising...

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quote:

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Originally posted by Waynaro:
Ferries are starting to look like cruise ships from the outside...even sleeker!

And inside, sounds like passengers are going to feel like cruise ships. I wonder if Viking Line has plans in the future to use this class of ships for cruising...

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