Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku started constructing an LNG-powered fast ferry for the Estonian ferry operator AS Tallink Grupp on August 4.
The 49,000 GT dual fuel ship will be about 212 metres in length with a capacity to carry 2,800 passengers.
The fast ferry will cost around EUR 230 million (USD 258.3m), and will be built at Meyer Turku shipyard for delivery in the first quarter of 2017. The vessel’s service speed will be 27 knots.
”With the new Tallink fast ferry we are taking the next step in the technical development of the LNG ferries – all tailored to the specific needs of our customer. For the Turku yard, this order boosts our production volume in 2016 by 30% above the 2015 level,” said Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku Oy.
Back in June, Tallink signed a EUR 184 million loan agreement with Nordea Bank Finland Plc to finance the construction of the vessel. The loan is secured by the mortgage on the new vessel and the corporate guarantee of AS Tallink Grupp.