Viking Line revealed his plans for HS to a fully electronic Tallinn ship

Viking Line reveals his ambitious concept to HS from a fully electric Tallinn ship. It requires many blocks to fall into place.

The Viking Helios ship, developed by the shipping company, would possibly operate between Helsinki and Tallinn in the early 2030s, says Viking Line CEO Jan Hanses.

Helios would be the world’s largest completely electric passenger ferry and the first of its kind in Finland.

Helio It would carry about 2,000 passengers and 650 cars across the Gulf of Finland in just over two hours.

The short distance between the Helsinki-Tallinn route is well suited for electric shipping, as it does not require too much battery capacity.

The length of the board would be 195 meters, 30 meters wide and 23 knots. So it would be a bit smaller but a little faster than, for example, Viking Grace.

Helios would be able to accommodate fewer passengers, but it would have much more freight capacity.

“We have seen that there is a growing demand for freight traffic between Helsinki and Tallinn,” Viking Line’s Director of Communications Johanna Boijer-Svahnström says.

Most of the passenger and freight transport of the Port of Helsinki is already directed to Estonia and traffic is expected to increase.

By electricity The Tallinn ship has been planned for a long time. The project is based on research cooperation with, for example, the Rauma Shipyard, Åbo Akademi and the University of Turku. The plan is also part of the Green Corridor project, which promotes emission -free maritime traffic in the Gulf of Finland.

For example, due to EU emissions trading fees, increasing fuel costs create pressure to switch to electric maritime traffic.

Helios would be an investment of EUR 200-300 million. There are at least two prerequisites for the implementation of the project, the first of which is related to funding.

This spring, Viking Line applied for funding from the EU Innovation Fund. An answer to the application is expected in October or November, Hanses says.

There are many applicants for innovation funding. At the same time, Viking Line applied for funding for two electric vessels on the Helsinki-Tallinn route.

Viking Helio is designed in cooperation with the Rauma shipyard. If the project is implemented, the ship could also be ordered from there. In the picture, the Rauma shipyard will hand over Spirit of Tasmania to the subscriber in 2024. Picture: Juha Sinisalo

Second The condition is related to charging infrastructure.

Helios’ battery capacity would be about 85-100 megawatt hours, which means that it would require a charging power of more than 30 megawatt hours in the port.

The charging power should be in order in both Helsinki and Tallinn, as the ferry would always be charged in the port. The turning times in Helsinki and Tallinn would also be relatively short.

So far, there is no adequate charging power on either side of the Gulf of Finland.

Jätkäsaari is planned to be the home port of electrical ships, where a development and extension program is underway at the Port of Helsinki. According to the Port of Helsinki Ready in 2032.

Viking Line plans to move all the maritime traffic to Tallinn to the West Harbor. Picture: Pete Aarre-Ahtio / IS

Viking Line According to Boijer-Svahnström, there is constant discussion with the ports of Helsinki and Tallinn to ensure the progress of the infrastructure.

« That infrastructure must be in order before even considering sending invitations to tender to the shipyards, » Hanses says.

If the company receives the EU innovation funding and the outlook for charging infrastructure is confirmed, Viking Line will start requesting offers from the shipyards. According to Hanses, it could happen before next summer.