Rauma Marine Constructions has started the construction of the first of two ropax ferries ordered by the Australian company Spirit of Tasmania.
The vessels will operate an extremely challenging open sea route between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
The start of construction was celebrated in Rauma on February, 28, in a traditional steel cutting ceremony.
The route the vessels are set to operate will be the world’s southernmost ferry route powered by LNG.
Rauma Marine Constructions and Tasmanian shipping company TT-Line have finalised an agreement for the construction of two ropax ferries at Rauma shipyard.
TT-Line had to withdraw from a previous Memorandum of Understanding. The Tasmanian government wanted to explore the possibilities for local shipbuilding. Eventually the decision was taken to abandon this path.
Construction will begin in spring 2022.
The first vessel will be delivered to TT-Line in late 2023 and the second one in late 2024.
The new vessels will replace the SPIRIT OF TASMANIA I and II, both built in Finland in 1998.
The keel of Rauma Marine Constructions’ newbuilding NB6003, a shuttle vessel named MyStar, was laid on 18 September 2020.
MyStar is set to be delivered to Tallink Grupp at the beginning of 2022. The ferry will operate between Helsinki and Tallinn.
Wasaline’s new ropax AURORA BOTNIA has been floated out at Rauma Marine Constructions’ shipyard in Rauma, Finland, on Friday 11 September.
The vessel will be completed in spring 2021, after which it will operate between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden.
Bad News for Rauma Marine Constructions, (maybe) Good News for Incat
The Government of Tasmania has decided that State-owned TT-Line Company Pty Ltd should not proceed with the proposed vessel replacement contract with Finnish ship builder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), “due to COVID-19 and its economic implications for the State.”
In 2018, a contract was signed with Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft.
In 2020, it was mutually agreed between TT-Line and FSG that FSG would not build the new vessels. TT-Line signed a Memorandum of Understanding with RMC and commenced contract negotiations and agreed final design specifications.
The TT-Line Board submitted an updated business case following a unanimous Board recommendation that TT-Line sign a new ship construction contract with RMC.
That recommendation was considered and subsequently not endorsed by the Shareholder Minsters.
A Reaction from Incat
Robert Clifford, Chairman Incat, has already announced that his company looks forward to work together with the soon-to-be-established Bass Strait Taskforce.
“With a highly skilled workforce of over 600 people directly employed in Tasmania, and many thousands more supported through sub-contract and supplier arrangements throughout the country, Incat are supportive of keeping Australian dollars within Australia and maintaining and indeed growing the employment opportunities for all Australians during these troubled times.”
A Reaction from RMC
“The situation is naturally unfortunate for RMC, but we are pleased to say that the withdrawal does not cause any immediate re-structuring at RMC,” says Jyrki Heinimaa, CEO, RMC.
RMC is currently building the AURORA BOTNIA ropax for Wasaline. In addition, production of the shuttle ferry MYSTAR for Tallink Grupp, started in April. Furthermore, last autumn, RMC signed a Contract with the Finnish Navy regarding the construction of four multi-role corvettes.
Rauma Marine Constructions to Partner with Aalto University Looking to Cut Emissions and Increase Safety
Rauma Marine Constructions Oy and Aalto University have concluded an agreement on joint research and development efforts. This collaboration aims especially at developing technologies that can improve the environmental and safety aspects of seafaring in order to reduce its carbon footprint, make use of new fuels and further develop maritime safety.
