Viking Grace. Image via Viking Line

Finland’s Viking Line on Thursday said it has taken delivery of the highly anticipated LNG-powered ferry, Viking Grace, from STX Finland’s Turku shipyard.

Viking Grace was ordered in December 2010 from STX Finland to the tune of EUR 240 million and has since been praised as an ‘environmental pioneer’. The ship is the largest passenger ferry ever built to be fueled by LNG and is expected to reduce nitrogen emissions and particulates by 85 percent, greenhouse gases by 15 percent, and sulphur emissions to practically zero.

The vessel also features a hydrodynamically optimized hull shape, highly effective propulsion machinery, and new soundproofing technology which will make her the greenest and quietest ferry in the Baltic Sea, and in the world.

The Viking Grace is expected make her maiden voyage from between Turku, Finland and the Åland Islands on January 15.

Technical information about the Viking Grace:

Length: 218 m

Width: 31.8 m

Speed: 22 knots

Gross tonnage: 57,600

Route: Turku- Mariehamn/Långnäs (Åland islands)-Stockholm

Classification: Lloyd’s Register

Flag state: Finland

Passenger capacity: 2,800

Cabins: 880

Lane metres: Cargo 1,275 m, cars 500 m on

Deck 4 plus 500 m on Deck 5