World first as LNG-fuelled Viking Grace is launched

06/09/2012

A series of special modular support vessels for operators in the offshore industries is being built by IHC Merwede, the Netherlands dredging and offshore specialists.

Viking Grace, the world’s most environmentally friendly large passenger ship, was launched in August this year.

The finishing touches to the ro-pax, which will carry 2,800 passengers and 500 cars and is fuelled by LNG, are being added at STX Europe’s Turku Shipyard in Finland. Risk analysis, classification and statutory certification have been carried out by Lloyd’s Register.

The 218 metre long vessel generates virtually no marine emissions and very low air emissions and has been specially designed to operate in the shallow and sensitive waters of the Finnish and Swedish archipelago.

Viking Grace will be operated by its new owner the Finnish-based Viking Line on the Turku-Aland Islands-Stockholm route on the Baltic Sea from January 2013.

Read more about this, and other marine news stories, in the September issue of Horizons.