Delivery of Wasaline ferry pushed back to June

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
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The first of AURORA BOTNIA's Marine Evacuation System's is tested as the ship nears completion at Rauma. Image: Wasaline.
The first of AURORA BOTNIA's Marine Evacuation System's is tested as the ship nears completion at Rauma. Image: Wasaline.

‘Aurora Botnia’ had previously been scheduled for delivery during May

Wasaline has announced that in agreement with shipyard Rauma Marine Construction (RMC), delivery of AURORA BOTNIA will now be during mid-June. The ship is the second large ferry to be delivered by the reborn shipyard which was previously the Rauma site of STX Europe and Aker Finnyards.

According to Wasaline, the delay is to ensure that the commissioning phase of the vessel can take place safely, taking into account the current coronavirus situation.

An artists rendering of 'AURORA BOTNIA'. Image: Wasaline.
An artists rendering of ‘AURORA BOTNIA’. Image: Wasaline.

The postponement of the delivery, previously scheduled for May, is intended to ensure that the ship’s commissioning phase can be completed safely, taking into account the coronavirus situation.

According to Peter Ståhlberg, CEO of Wasaline:

Together with RMC we have agreed on a revised schedule. For us, it is crucial to have the vessel completed as coronavirus-safely as possible. Given the challenging global situation, the new schedule is acceptable to us,”

Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO of Rauma Marine Constructions says;

The pandemic that has now lasted for over a year, has delayed deliveries of the main equipment, among other things. With the handover taking place in June, we will be able to ensure that the number of employees working on the ship’s finishing and commissioning work can be kept within safe limits,”

A side profile drawing of AURORA BOTNIA. Image: Wasaline.
A side profile drawing of AURORA BOTNIA. Image: Wasaline.

The ship is currently undergoing final outfitting and commissioning. This will culminate in sea trials and berthing trials. Wasaline claims that AURORA BOTNIA will be the most environmentally car and passenger ferry in the world. She will sail on the route between the Finnish city of Vaasa and the Swedish city of Umeå

Earlier this month, Wasaline announced that testing had commenced on AURORA BOTNIA’s evacuation systems. Like P&O Ferries’ SPIRIT OF FRANCE and SPIRIT of BRITAIN, the new ferry will only have these evacuation systems and no traditional lifeboats. On the Wasaline ship these systems can be fully deployed in 90 seconds.

AURORA BOTNIA is RMC’s second large Ro-Pax ferry and follows HAMMERSHUS, which was the yards first newbuild. RMC also has other new build work, including corvettes for the Finnish navy and Tallink’s MYSTAR.


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