Finferries News

The latest addition to FinFerries’ fleet, the ferry Altera, features high-efficiency azimuth thrusters from SCHOTTEL. The electrically powered hybrid ferry, which is scheduled to enter operation in 2023, is currently under construction at the Polish shipyard Crist. Altera will be able to sail solely on battery power charging its batteries with renewable electricity.Altera measures 100 meters in length and 17 meters in width. The ferry provides space for up to 90 cars and a maximum…

The SCHOTTEL After Sales Team has carried out a modernization on two double-ended ferries operated by FinFerries. Both vessels, capable of holding either 14 cars or up to 60 tons of payload, were originally equipped with various propeller systems manufactured in different years. For the retrofit, the state-owned operator requested a tailor-made concept to allow the same propeller assembly to be used. At the same time, the solution had to be quick and easy to install.In each ferry, two SCHOTTEL Rudderpropellers type SRP 150 have been installed.

Danfoss Editron was commissioned by the Suomenlahden Telakka Oy shipyard to provide a diesel-electrical drivetrain system for the Prostvik 1 ferry, which operates in Finland’s Turku archipelago. The entire diesel-powered propulsion of the ship will be retrofitted to a diesel-electrical drivetrain system to help improve its overall efficiency and reduce its emissions.Operated by Finferries, Prostvik 1 is one of two ferries operating on the route between Nauvo and Korpoo, making it vitally important to the local population.

The ferry business, unlike more industrial parts of the shipping business, touches wide swaths of the world’s population across continents. The membership of Interferry, the leading trade group for the industry, with non-Governmental organization (NGO) status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) includes 200+ members from all parts of the ferry spectrum. These include passenger ferries (including fast ferries), Ro/Pax and cruise ferries operating globally. In selecting “the best” we looked beyond the league tables of “the most” (passengers) and “the biggest” (fleet size).

Rolls-Royce and Finnish state-owned ferry operator Finferries have successfully demonstrated the world’s first fully autonomous ferry in the archipelago south of the city of Turku, Finland.The car ferry Falco, used a combination of Rolls-Royce Ship Intelligence technologies to successfully navigate autonomously during its voyage between Parainen and Nauvo. The return journey was conducted under remote control.During the demonstration, the Falco, with 80 invited VIP guests aboard, conducted the voyage under fully autonomous control.

The capacity for Intelligent Awareness and machine learning technologies to significantly improve navigational safety has been verified by Rolls-Royce and Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), following the success of a pilot project aboard a 165m passenger ferry, Sunflower Gold.Results from sea trials on the vessel, which operates night-time sailings between Kobe and Oita, Japan, found that the navigating officers were able to visually detect objects that would otherwise have been cloaked by the blackness of night.The vessel navigates the Akashi Kaikyo…

With digitalization technologies sweeping through maritime, Henrik Segercrantz, Maritime Reporter’s correspondent in Helsinki, explores latest developments in the quest to harness the power of 'big data.'Wärtsilä's Smart Marine EcosystemWärtsilä continues to build its leadership resume in marine and energy markets, boasting net sales of $5.7 billion last year, supported by 18,000 employees with operations in more than 80 countries. Increasingly Wärtsilä is using ‘smart’ technologies in its growing scope of products for the maritime industry…

Finnish shipowner Finferries has partnered with Rolls-Royce in an effort to advance technologies for remote and autonomous ferry operations.The companies signed a collaboration agreement Thursday to jointly develop strategies and solutions to optimize the safety and efficiency of marine operations through developing the technology for decision supporting systems and to demonstrate remote and autonomous ferry operations.As part of the collaboration, a new research project called…

The maritime industry increasingly moves towards autonomy, and Rolls-Royce has been a major driver of the initiative globally. Today Rolls-Royce announced a deal with Japanese multi-modal transport company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), to collaborate in the development of its intelligent awareness system. Specifically the intitiative will be trialled onboard the 165-m passenger ferry Sunflower, owned and operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines’ subsidiary company, which makes the 222-nautical mile run between Kobe and Oita via the Akashi Kaikyo, Bisan Seto and Kurushima Straits.

Cavotec's MoorMaster automated mooring and Automatic Plug-in System (APS) are set to enter service with a hybrid battery-powered ferry in Finland, delivering substantial operational efficiencies and reducing environmental impact. The Electra, operated by FinFerries, is 90m long, 16m wide, and carries up to 90 vehicles. It makes crossings at 15-minute intervals during the day, and one round trip per hour at night, year-round and in all weather conditions between Parainen and Nauvo in southwest Finland.

Rolls-Royce said it has signed a deal with Swedish ferry company Stena Line AB to collaborate in the development of its first intelligent awareness system. Intelligent awareness systems will make vessels safer, easier and more efficient to operate by providing crew with an enhanced understanding of their vessel’s surroundings, according to Rolls-Royce. This will be achieved by fusing data from a range of sensors with information from existing ship systems; such as Automatic Identification System (AIS) and radar. Data from other sources, including global databases, will also have a role.

Siemens said it has secured a contract to supply propulsion systems for two new The all-electric battery ferries to be operated by Fjord1 on the E39 Anda-Lote route on the west coast of Norway. Both vessels will have a cargo capacity of 120 cars, 12 trailers and 349 passengers. Operation on the 2.4 kilometer-long route will start in January 2018. With this contract, the first four battery-driven ferries in the world will run on technology developed and manufactured by Siemens, the company noted.

A new whitepaper from the Rolls-Royce led Advanced Autonomous Waterborne Applications Initiative (AAWA) outlines the project’s vision of how remote and autonomous shipping will become a reality. “This is happening. It’s not if, it’s when,” said Oskar Levander, Rolls-Royce, Vice President of Innovation – Marine, speaking at the Autonomous Ship Technology Symposium 2016 in Amsterdam. “The technologies needed to make remote and autonomous ships a reality exist. The AAWA project is…

The Advanced Autonomous Waterborne Applications Initiative (AAWA) project, led by Rolls-Royce, introduced the project’s first commercial ship operators: ferry operator Finferries and dry bulk cargo carriers ESL Shipping Oy. The announcement came at a conference presenting the findings of the initiative’s first year of research at Helsinki’s Finlandia Hall last week. The AAWA project brings together universities, ship designers, equipment manufacturers and classification societies to explore the economic…

Siemens has been commissioned to provide the complete electro-technical solution for Finland’s first battery-powered car ferry. The Finnish shipping company FinFerries has ordered the newbuilding from the Polish shipyard CRIST S.A. The environmentally-friendly ferry will improve the transport options between Nauvo and Parainen in the Turku Archipelago. It will be approximately 90 meters long by 16 meters wide with capacity for a maximum of 90 cars. Operation on the 1.6 kilometer-long route will begin in summer 2017.

STX Finland Oy’s Rauma Shipyard sees the naming & delivery of the new ferry to Suomen Lauttaliikenne Oy (Finferries). The godmother of the next generation road ferry, Professor Elina Pirjatanniemi, named the ship “Stella” in the presence of invited guests, the representatives of Suomen Lauttaliikenne, STX Finland, and the classification society Bureau Veritas. The environmentally friendly double-ended ferry, NB 1380, entered production in December 2011 at the STX Finland’s Rauma Shipyard.

On 8 April 2011, STX Finland Oy and Finferries signed a contract for the construction of a Double Ended Ferry to operate in Finland, Turku Archipelago. The ship will be built on STX Rauma shipyard and it will be delivered at the end of 2012. The ship will be 65 metres in length and 12.8 metres in breadth. The construction of the environmentally friendly ferry will bring some 100 man-years of work to STX Rauma shipyard personnel and the personnel of its supplier network. The value of the contract will not be published.

Start of Production of Double Ended Ferry at STX Finland Rauma Shipyard. On Tuesday, 13 December 2011, STX Finland Oy's Rauma Shipyard started a production of a Double Ended newbuilding no. 1380 for Finferries. The vessel will be delivered at the end of 2012. Construction of the 65-metre ferry will bring 100 man-years of labour to STX Rauma shipyard per-sonnel and the personnel of its supplier network. The start of the production was attended by representatives of Finferries, STX Finland, the classification society Det Norske Veritas, and members of the press.

The keel-laying of the Double Ended Ferry to be built for Suomen Lauttaliikenne Oy (Finferries) was performed at STX Rauma Shipyard on Friday, 20 April 2012. The environmentally friendly next-generation ferry will be delivered to the customer at the end of 2012. The vessel will enter traffic on the Korpo – Houtskär route at the beginning of 2013. The keel-laying ceremony following old tradition performed at the STX Rauma Shipyard was witnessed by representatives of Suomen Lauttaliikenne (Finferries), STX Finland and the classification society Bureau Veritas. Particular attention has been given to the efficiency and safety of the ferry by, for example, minimising the docking time with help of wide bow and stern ramps.