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On Thursday 10 January 2013, STX Finland Oy’s Turku shipyard delivered a next-generation cruise ferry to Viking Line ABP. According to the Finnish shipbuilder, the M/S Viking Grace [pictured] is 'the most environmentally friendly large cruise vessel ever built', using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.

Construction of the vessel started in September 2011 and the ship was floated out in August 2012. The ship provided some 2,600 man-years of labour to the shipyard.

M/S Viking Grace will enter traffic on the Turku (Finland) - Åland Islands - Stockholm (Sweden) route on 15 January 2013.

The ship’s emissions into the sea have been eliminated, and emissions into the air are said to be significantly lower than those of other large passenger ships.

The ship features a variety of novel technological innovations. In addition to the fuel solution, such features as the ship’s machinery configuration, advanced energy saving solutions, new innovative ways of taking advantage of passenger areas, and versatile restaurant services have attracted special attention.

"We are proud to be able to deliver a superb, technically advanced cruise ferry to a Finnish shipping company. We are certain that the ship will be a great success on the route between Turku and Stockholm. The building process of this vessel has provided us with valuable know-how on putting the developing technology for gas-fuelled ships into practice," commented Jari Anttila, EVP and COO of STX Finland Oy, and Director of STX Turku Shipyard.