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A ship for the future
Despite Åland’s tax exemption the “happy days” of the 1980s seem very far away for the ferry traffic on the northern Baltic Sea. It is also particularly difficult to predict future development. Tax-free continues, but will it totally lose its significance? And in that case, how would the passenger volumes develop?
In the 1990s the ro-pax ferry has gained terrain on the ferry market in the EU. Cargo is now the driving force. But is ro-pax the only solution also for the northern Baltic Sea?

Viking Line’s recent order for a new ferry for their Helsinki–Tallinn service indicates that this is not necessarily the case. This order is perhaps a little bit more significant than just another ferry contract, as it indicates how one of the most successful ferry companies in Northern Europe interprets the market.

Few other ferry companies possess an accumulated experience comparable to that of Viking Line. The Åland-based company was established in 1963 as Ålandsfärjan, and was renamed SF-Line few years later. Beginning with the very first newbuilding "Kapella", which was delivered in 1967, the conceptual design work has always been carried out in-house and is based on experience from the operations. Every new generation of ferries has evolved from former ones. The designs have also been successful. Viking Line’s ferries have been true moneymakers and also sought-after on the second-hand market.

Throughout its existence, the management of Viking Line (SF-Line) has been exceptionally skilful in reading the market. The timing has always been perfect but without taking any massive risks. Now, almost 20 years have passed since Viking Line last ordered a new vessel. Surely it is not by chance that Viking Line has chosen to order a newbuilding now. Over the years there has been frequent rumours that Viking Line has new projects in the pipeline. The company has not been passive at all – they have monitored the market carefully even if none of the ferry designs on the drawing board have advanced to an order. It is quite obvious that Viking Line believes in a future for volume-based passenger traffic on the northern Baltic Sea. The new vessel will take over where the road ends for the traditional cruise ferry based on a purely tax-free concept.

However, Viking Line’s new ferry is by no means a typical ro-pax. It is a pure passenger and car ferry, but it is designed for the post-tax-free market. Although only few details are known about the vessel, it is most likely to be both flexible and innovative.

The service speed is high enough to adapt an optimal service profile for Viking Line’s many key routes. Obviously Viking Line goes for a solution where capacity is obtained by frequency. On a short route like Helsinki–Tallinn the cargo capacity is quite sufficient. The passenger capacity is also large enough for the most attractive sailings during high season. And finally there are separate decks for cargo vehicles and private cars. This means that, in most cases, all of the 1,000 lane metres on main deck may be used for cargo only. Most likely it will also be possible to operate the vessel with a much smaller crew than on the cruise ferries of today.

Viking Lines order from Aker Finnyards includes options for two sister vessels. It will be extremely interesting to see how these will be employed – if the options are declared. As there are two vessels, it indicates a pair for another service. Perhaps this is also a hint for any potential buyer of the main rival Silja Line; a reminder that Viking Line is not about to leave the game.

Viking Line’s new ferry will be a vessel of the future – a complement to the strongly freight-oriented ro-pax ferry.

//Pär-Henrik Sjöström