Aker Yards to Guild Ferry for Tallink

Aker Yards and the Estonian Tallink Group have signed a contract for the building of a fast passenger ferry for delivery in spring 2007, worth around 110 million euro. The contract includes an option for another similar vessel. The new ferry to be delivered from the yard in Helsinki is of a new and innovative design. She will start regular traffic between Helsinki and Tallinn and will be capable to cross the sea between the two cities in 1 hour and 50 minutes. The ice class of the ferry will allow year-around operation. Besides 1,900 passengers, the 185 m long and 27.7 m wide vessel is designed to carry private cars and freight units by having more than two kilometres of vehicle deck space. Aker Yards is the leading ferry builder in the world. "We are pleased that the partnership and tradition with Tallink continues, said Yrjö Julin, President of Aker Finnyards and responsible for Cruise & Ferries in Aker Yards. "We regard four newbuilding contracts within five years as a reflection of trust for our excellence". Presently building at the yard in Rauma is a new generation cruise ferry to be delivered for Tallink in spring 2006. The previous cruise ferries, MS Romantika and MS Victoria, were delivered in spring 2002 and 2004.