Aker Yards Delivers Big Cruise Ferry

On 18 April 2006, the cruise ferry "Galaxy" was delivered for Tallink from Aker Yards shipyard in Rauma. The contract worth 165 million Euro was signed in October 2004. The vessel will start cruises from Helsinki to Tallinn. The vessel is one of the biggest cruise ferries in the Baltic Sea, having capacity for 2,800 passengers. The guiding principle in designing the vessel is paying attention to the comfort and luxury of present-day passengers. The use of high-tech solutions onboard is maximized. 927 cabins, several restaurants and places to entertain of various style and class as well as a remarkable conference centre with over 450 seats make the new ship a multi functional sea-based hotel with excellent ambience. The vessel will start regular cruises between Helsinki and Tallinn. On that route now, the cruise ferry "Romantika", delivered from Aker Yards in spring 2002, will start cruising between Stockholm and Tallinn together with the sister ship "Victoria", built in Rauma in 2004. In addition to the "Galaxy", Tallink has ordered from Aker Yards a sister vessel for the big cruise ferry for delivery in summer 2008 as well as a fast passenger day ferry for delivery in spring 2007. MS Galaxy is designed to carry passengers, private cars and freight units, and has 1,130 lanemetres, i.e. over a kilometre of vehicle deck space. The vessel has a length of 212 metres, a beam of 29 metres and a gross tonnage of 48,300. Propulsion by four diesel engines totalling 26,240 kW will provide a service speed of 22 knots. Classification of the vessel is to the highest ice-class - 1 A Super. The catalytic reduction units to be installed for better control of exhaust emissions will make the vessel most environmentally friendly.