A ferry far beyond the ordinary

AURORA BOTNIA is the new vessel being built for the northernmost sea lane in the world, the year-round Wasaline route. This outstanding passenger and car ferry will run betweenVaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden and will be unique and record-breaking in many ways. Its environmental footprint has been taken into account in every aspect of its design. The vessel will help to protect the archipelago wilderness of the Kvarken World Heritage Site through which it will travel daily. Compared to its predecessor, Aurora Botnia will reduce voyage time by 20% and cut CO2 emissions by 50%.

THE TECHNOLOGY invented for the vessel is a true Vaasa solution and a similar combination cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Aurora Botnia will be equipped with Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines which will make it the first hybrid ferry in the world running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied biogas (LBG) and batteries. The vessel will feature advanced technologies such as azimuthing electric podded propulsion thrusters by ABB, Wärtsilä’s embedded engine control sys- tem, and smart engine and bridge systems. There is not a vessel yet on the Baltic Sea that combines gas, batteries and azipods.

BUILT BY Rauma Marine Constructions, the ferry will make its maiden voyage on the Kvarken waves in the spring of 2021. Top local experts have engaged in magnificent collaboration to de- velop something completely new, with the result that more than 80% of the forthcoming vessel will be made in Finland. The unique solutions were designed following the themes of smart ship and remote operation.

THE SHIPPING COMPANY Wasaline is extremely proud of the vessel under construction. The ferry is being built entirely without EU funding, which the Managing Director sees as a great achievement in itself. Vaasa and Umeå and their two countries have succeeded in a great feat with the strong support of the regions’ industries and politicians. The entire world is fascinated by this vessel.

“We are a small shipping company with a great showcase to present to the world. The whole region is building this masterpiece together. It’s going to represent the next generation of ferries”, says Managing Director Peter Ståhlberg proudly.

 

AURORA BOTNIA

  • Length: 150 m Beam: 26 m
  • Draught: 6.1 m Deadweight: 3,500 tonnes
  • Passenger capacity: 800 Cabins: 68
  • Freight capacity: 1,500 lane metres for trucks
  • Speed: 20 knots

 

THE VESSEL’S INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY COMBO IS A TRUE VAASA SOLUTION
The whole region is building this masterpiece together. It’s going to represent the next generation of ferries.

ABB
Azimuthing propulsion

DANFOSS
Liquid-cooled 6-MW AC drives for power generation and hybrid propulsion systems

LECLANCHÉ
Battery energy storage

VEO
Electrical cabinets

WÄRTSILÄ
Wärtsilä 31DF engines,
tank connection space with integrated GVU, LNG tank, Nacos Platinum navigation

WE TECH SOLUTIONS
Electrical design and the vessel’s power generation and hybrid propulsion system, propulsion switchboards, propulsion frequency converters, generators, energy management system, propulsion control system and bow thruster motors

 

Photo credit: Rauma Marine Constructions