Viking Line mulls launching world’s largest electric ferry

The cruise ship operator Viking Line is preparing to launch entirely emission-free service between Helsinki and Tallinn, said the ferry company in a press release on Friday.

The shipping company's vessel concept could be realized as early as the beginning of the 2030s.

Upon realisation, the concept, named Helios, would be the world’s largest electric passenger-car ferry.

With a battery capacity of approximately 85–100 megawatt hours (MWh), Helios could transport 2,000 passengers across the Gulf of Finland in just over two hours.

The length of the concept vessel is 195 metres, the width 30 metres and the speed approximately 23 knots.

The freight capacity on board is about 2 kilometres. Compared to the silhouette of traditional vessels, Helios mainly stands out due its lack of a funnel.

Helios is based on a research collaboration between Viking Line and Rauma shipyard as well as other partners.

The concept is specifically designed for the Helsinki–Tallinn route, as the 80 kilometre, or 43 nautical mile, route is ideally suited for electric vessel traffic. The electric vessel is always charged when the ship is in port. The vessel requires a charging capacity of over 30 megawatt hours.

“Helios heralds a new era in maritime transport, just like the first sail, steam, and motor ships did in their time. The concept proves that large-scale emission-free maritime transport is no longer a utopia,” said Viking Line’s Chief Executive Officer Jan Hanses.

The newly announced electric passenger-car ferry concept serves as a basis for continued planning and for the invitation to tender to shipyards.

This spring, Viking Line submitted a funding application to the EU's Innovation Fund for the construction of a ferry.