Following coverage of an Irish managed cargoship in the Gulf of Botnia port of Kokkola, Afloat continues with Scandinavian news where the most northernmost passenger ferry, operating between Finland and Sweden, has cut CO2 emissions in half.
Operator Wasaline which links Vaasa, Finland and Umeå in Sweden introduced their first newbuild Aurora Botnia in Autumn, 2021. The goal was to build the world’s most environmentally friendly passenger ferry in its class. Now that Wasaline has consumption data from over 12 months, the results look very positive.
In the first year of service, Aurora Botnia’s has been able to cut total CO2 emissions by 51,8 percent. The 800 passenger / 1,500 lane metre vehicle capacity ferry built by Rauma Marine Contructions in Finland, has more weekly departures than its predecessor Wasa Express, now running for an Egyptian operator in the Red Sea.
Therefore, the reduction in average emissions per departure is even greater, 67,2 %. The calculations are based on Wasa Express’s first year in service, 2013.
The Wasa Express had used heavy fuel oil and marine diesel as fuels whereas Aurora Botnia can use liquified natural gas (LNG) or marine diesel as fuel. After Aurora Botnia entered service, total CO2 emissions have been reduced from 22,000 metric tons to 11, 000 tons. The average emissions per departure are down from 29,57 ton to 9,71 ton.
Commenting on the results, Peter Ståhlberg, MD of Wasaline said “We have been able to reduce emissions significantly in a challenging situation where fuel costs have increased rapidly. The reduction would be even greater if we could use LNG all the time. However, the record-high market prices of gas have forced us to use diesel as an alternative”.
He added, “Our efforts to cut down emissions are never over. We strive to keep Aurora Botnia as the world’s most environmentally friendly ferry now and in the future. We also see the proposed emissions trading in maritime transport as a positive development, as long as the rules treat all shipping companies equally”.