Viking Line opts out of cruise ferry option

Finland’s Viking Line has chosen not to exercise its option for a second ferry with the Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co.

In July, Viking Line confirmed the order for a €194 million (US$241.7 million) cruise ferry to operate on the Turku (Finland)–Åland Islands–Stockholm (Sweden) route. It is scheduled for delivery in 2020.

President and CEO Jan Hanses said the collaborative project involves engaging Finnish and other European suppliers.

The energy-efficient vessel will be 218 metres in length and have a gross registered tonnage of about 63,000 tonnes.

Passenger capacity will be 2,800 people, and the length of its cargo lanes will be 1,500 metres.

Viking Line will hire Scandinavian architects for the interior design.