The Finnish-Swedish ferry line has subscribed to the Sustainable Actions for Innovative and Low-Impact Shipping (SAILS) Initiative for Good Practices in Maritime Transport for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment.

SAILS signatories commit to undertaking actions (certain or all) that go beyond regulatory obligations. These include protection of cetaceans; reduction of the underwater noise impact caused by ships; decrease of atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions; strengthening of ties with the scientific sector; and fight against invasive species.

"Sustainability is an important factor for us at Wasaline and as we have the first passenger ferry to be built with the Clean Design notation [a proof of voluntary compliance with additional pollution prevention measures and upcoming environmental regulations], this Initiative will be supported nicely by the new ferry," Peter Ståhlberg, Managing Director, Wasaline commented.

The company's newbuild, currently under construction at the Rauma Marine Constructions shipbuilding yard, is scheduled for delivery in April 2021. The €120m-worth Aurora Botnia will be a gas-run (dual-fuel) 1A Super ice class ro-pax able to take up to 800 passengers on-board and offer 1,500 lane metres of cargo capacity.

Photo: Kvarken Link