Kvarken Link, owner of the Finnish-Swedish ferry company Wasaline, has sold for an undisclosed sum its ro-pax to United Marine Egypt (UME) Shipping.

The 1981-built ferry will be handed over to her new owners once Wasaline's brand-new ship, Aurora Botnia, will enter into service between the Swedish Umeå and Finnish Vaasa in May.

The 140.8 m-long and 24.5 m-wide Wasa Express offers 1,150 lane metres of freight space as well as room for up to 915 passengers.

"We are very pleased that we managed to enter into an agreement with UME Shipping who has a good reputation in maintaining and operating their vessels and have set a new standard for ferry operations in the Red Sea. We believe that UME Shipping share our values in how ships shall be operated and maintained. It is an important milestone to have reached this agreement already now, enabling us to focus on the operations of the existing vessel, as well as the newbuilding project," Captain Peter Ståhlberg, Managing Director, Wasaline, commented.

Mohamed Badawy, Chairman and Owner, UME Shipping, added, "With our latest acquisition, the Wasa Express, we will be the first operator with a battery hybrid ferry in the Red Sea. In addition to the battery system the vessel is equipped with a number of the latest optimizing equipment in the market, effectively reducing the carbon dioxide footprint. The vessel is maintained to highest level and offers highest passenger standard. We are looking forward to taking over Wasa Express and to continue the fine co-operation with Kvarken Link."

Photo: Wasaline