New Viking Glory honours the Baltic Sea

The construction of Viking Glory commenced on 3 September 2018 at the Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry shipyard with the traditional steel cutting ceremony in which the first steel plates for the ship were cut. Since then the work has proceeded on schedule so that the keel laying took place on 3 June 2019. The vessel is being built as a co-operation project involving a number of Finnish and Nordic suppliers, such as Wärtsilä, ABB and Almaco. Viking Glory will start sailing on the route between Turku and Stockholm in early 2021.

Sea views are always present on board Viking Glory

The planning of the new vessel started already several years ago in collaboration with the Turku-based ship designer company Deltamarin. The main goals of design are thriving of passengers, environmentally sound operating, energy-efficiency, and ease of manoeuvring.

”As for passenger satisfaction, we have invested particularly in displaying the unique views on the route between Turku and Stockholm. That is achieved with the large panorama windows on all sides of the ship through which the passengers can admire the magnificent archipelago views anywhere on board the ship. The views are also part of Viking Glory’s interior decoration which has been designed by the Swedish company Koncept Stockholm. We decided on the designer in the same way as with Viking Grace and chose an agency with no previous experience in ship design. I believe that this way we will again get a new and exciting Scandinavian look for our vessel”, promises Johanna Boijer-Svahnström, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications at Viking Line.

Attention on Baltic Sea nature and climate

To ensure environmentally sound operating, the design work on Viking Glory focuses on environmentally sound solutions as well as innovative energy-efficiency applications. As a result, the new vessel will be one of the climate-wisest vessels in the world.

”After the completion of Viking Glory, our route between Turku and Stockholm will be operated by the two environmentally friendliest vessels in the Baltic Sea. Like Viking Grace, our new vessel will be fuelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) which reduces climate emissions, and thanks to new engine technology and hull design Viking Glory will consume 10% less fuel. The hull design also means less wave formation, which protects the sensitive nature in the archipelago. In addition, Viking Glory’s energy-efficiency is enhanced by a number of new technological solutions. The cold generated by liquefied natural gas will be used in the refrigerators in the vessel’s kitchen, and waste heat will be efficiently recovered, which will considerably decrease the vessel’s energy consumption”, Johanna Boijer-Svahnström says.

New high-quality capacity between Turku and Stockholm

On the Turku–Stockholm route Viking Glory will replace Viking Amorella which has sailed on the same route since 1988. The renewal of the vessel stock means a significant increase in the service capacity of both passenger and cargo transports on the route.

“The Turku route is very important to Viking Line, and it’s natural for us to invest in its services. The route offers the fastest connection from Finland to Sweden and the other Nordic countries as well as good connections to the rest of Europe. The launch of Viking Glory in place of Amorella will generate room for some 400 more passengers and 600 added lane metres for cargo on the morning departure. The new vessel will be the biggest on the route, almost 50 metres longer compared to Amorella”, Johanna Boijer-Svahnström says about the key dimensions of Viking Glory.

Developing connection will make the Turku route more attractive

Developing the sea connection between Turku and Stockholm is part of the NextGen Link project which involves Viking Line, the ports of Turku, Stockholm and Mariehamn, and the City of Turku. The goal of the EU-supported project is to enhance the connection by introducing a new LNG-powered vessel and improving the infrastructure of the ports.

”The development of the connection is also served by the joint terminal project in Turku on which the Port of Turku, City of Turku, Viking Line and Tallink Silja signed a letter of intent in autumn 2018. The renewal of our fleet and more efficient port services will generate significant added value to tourism which will further increase the interest of passengers and cargo carriers in our ship connection between Turku and Stockholm”, Johanna Boijer-Svahnström assures.

Text: Kari Ahonen
Photo: Markku Koivumäki and Viking Line