Kvarken Link has commissioned the Finnish Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) shipyard to deliver a brand-new ferry to ply between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden.

The €120m-worth project, to consume 800 person-years to execute, comprises a gas-run (dual-fuel) ro-pax of the 1A Super ice class, able to take up to 800 passengers on-board and offer 1,500 lane metres of cargo capacity.

Once deployed, the newbuild will sail in the colours of Wasaline, a ferry company jointly set up by the municipalities of Vaasa and Umeå.

"We reached an agreement in a little over a week after signing the letter of intent. Now begins the real work. We would like to express our appreciation to the ministers and officials at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Finland, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and the Ministry of Finance, for their role in making this project a reality," Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO, RMC, said.

Photo: Kudos/Midway Alignment