Production of Wasaline’s new car and passenger ferry continues uninterrupted at Rauma shipyard
Despite the exceptional circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic, the construction of the Aurora Botnia, Wasaline’s new car and passenger ferry, is progressing according to schedule.
“We are starting to put together the last blocks and the construction of the hull, as well as the fitting of the machine rooms and car decks, is proceeding at a rapid pace. A total of seven of Aurora Botnia’s blocks will be delivered from Gdansk in Poland, of which three arrived at the end of April. We are currently fitting the blocks that were delivered,” says Johanna Kaijo, Project Manager of the newbuilding NB6002.
Construction of the cabins has also begun in Rauma. The vessel’s bow gate will be delivered to the shipyard in August, along with other equipment including side doors and a moving car deck. In addition to RMC’s own staff, there are approximately 400 persons from RMC’s network, representing some ten different nationalities, working on the Wasaline project. The COVID-19 situation has posed additional challenges to the staffing of extra and rotating employees.
“We hope that the decisions made by the Finnish government on Monday, May 4, regarding the ease of labour movement will help this situation,” says Jyrki Heinimaa, President and CEO, Rauma Marine Constructions.
“Our vessel will be the world’s most environmentally friendly car and passenger ferry. It has been a pleasure to follow its construction and to witness how well the project has been advancing. The excellent degree of cooperation between the shipyard and its subcontractors is evident at all stages and the construction is going forward according to schedule despite the challenges,” comments Peter Ståhlberg, Managing Director of Wasaline.
The next significant phase in the construction of Aurora Botnia is the launch of the vessel in the autumn.
For more information and interview requests, please contact:
Jyrki Heinimaa, President and CEO, Rauma Marine Constructions
Laura Virtanen, Executive Assistant, Rauma Marine Constructions
tel. +358 50 528 0068
laura.virtanen@rmcfinland.fi
Peter Ståhlberg, Managing Director, Wasaline
tel. +358 40 5592353
peter.stahlberg@wasaline.com
Catarina Fant, Head of Marketing & Events, Kvarken Link
tel. +358 46 921 5811
catarina.fant@wasaline.com
Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) is a wholly Finnish-owned shipbuilding company formed in the summer of 2014 in Rauma. RMC specialises in building and servicing multipurpose icebreakers, car and passenger ferries and naval vessels. More information is available at www.rmcfinland.fi
Owned by Kvarken Link Oy, Wasaline is the northernmost shipping company that transports passengers and cargo daily between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden. Wasaline’s new vessel, under construction in Rauma, will be delivered in spring 2021. For more information: www.wasaline.com. More about the new vessel: www.kvarkenlink.com.
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