M/s Finnsirius celebrates its first anniversary – customers have discovered Finnlines’ new ships
Finnlines Plc, Press release, Helsinki, 13 September 2024
Finnlines entered a new era with the launch of its state-of-the-art vessel, Finnsirius, on the Finland–Åland–Sweden route. As Finnsirius marks its first anniversary, Finnlines invites passengers to celebrate with special onboard entertainment.
Passengers can admire the Archipelago from the outdoor deck and
through large panoramic windows. Photo: Finnlines Plc.
Finnlines entered a new era on 15 September 2023, when its brand-new Superstar-class freight-passenger vessel, M/s Finnsirius, started to operate on the Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär route. Its sister vessel M/s Finncanopus joined in February 2024, and together they quickly doubled passenger numbers on the route between Finland and Sweden.
The entry of the two Superstars marked the completion of Finnlines’ EUR 500-million Green Investment Programme, which also consisted of three freight vessels, all of which entered Finnlines services in 2022.
“But this is a cruise vessel”
Many visitors and passengers have acclaimed the sister ships as “cruise vessels” due to their upgraded services. The new ships also allow foot passengers to board for a cruise, something that wasn’t possible before.
Services consist of several themed restaurants, a wide range of cabin categories, meeting rooms, lounges, and a large duty-free shop. Many passengers enjoy the spa area or exercise in the gym and children have access to several indoor and outdoor play areas.
“Finnlines has attracted new passenger segments, such as families, sports teams and conference guests. We have also introduced day-cruises, or so-called picnic cruises, where passengers switch vessels in Långnäs. A day at sea gives a relaxing break from daily routines, and we’re glad to announce that Finnsirius’ 1st anniversary will be celebrated onboard with live music and special offers,” says Marco Palmu, Head of Finnlines Passenger Services.
“Both private passengers and professional drivers have been impressed by the vessels and the service concept. The Superstars were designed specifically to fit at best the needs of customers commuting between Finland and Sweden: passenger and cargo operations are very efficient, for example, thanks to the internal ramps and a dedicated area for passenger vehicles. Truck drivers also appreciate the break at sea between long hours on the road,” says Antonio Raimo, Line Manager at Finnlines.
Investments in state-of-the-art technology
Finnsirius was built at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai, China, but European companies supplied approximately 40 per cent of the machinery and other equipment.
The Superstar vessels have been equipped with many technical innovations that improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These innovations include high-powered battery banks, which make it possible to reduce the number of main engines running at sea. Air lubrication under the keel reduces resistance and saves fuel. An onshore power connection enables zero emissions while docked in port, and port operations are more efficient with auto-mooring.
More information:
Marco Palmu, Head of Passenger Services, Finnlines Plc
[email protected], +358 50 565 4894
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Finnlines Plc
Finnlines is a leading shipping operator of freight and passenger services in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay. The company is a part of the Grimaldi Group, one of the world’s largest operators of ro-ro vessels and the largest operator of the Motorways of the Sea in Europe for both passengers and freight. This affiliation enables Finnlines to offer liner services to and from any destination in the Mediterranean, West Africa, North and South America as well as Asia and Australia.