Wärtsilä’s ship design group has been selected to design a new ferry as part of the ‘Midway Alignment of the Bothnian Corridor’ project. This EU-sponsored initiative will provide a “secure, environmentally and economically sustainable transport system for goods and passengers traveling through the Bothnian Corridor,” according to the project’s website.
The project budget is roughly EUR 20 million.
The Ro-Pax ferry will be designed for sailing between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden across the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. Wartsila notes the design of the vessel will enable it to be operationally flexible, supporting the seasonal changes in transport and passenger carrying needs as well has harsh environment in the winter.
“Feasibility and environmental sustainability are essential cornerstones, and Wärtsilä’s experience and expertise will contribute greatly to achieving a successful solution,” says Mathias Lindström, Director, Kvarken Council and Project Leader for the Midway Alignment of the Bothnian Corridor project.
“This is an important project and we are proud to have been selected as the design partner responsible for developing the ship design. Integrated solutions for gas fuelled vessels represents a key focus area for Wärtsilä, and is one where we clearly have a leading role in the global market. As a first step, the initial design will be finalized whereby we can start making more precise budgets and develop the project further,” says Magnus Miemois, Vice President, Ship Power Solutions at Wärtsilä.
The ship design phase is scheduled to be finalised by the end of the 2nd quarter in 2015.