Before the finished ship is delivered to the customer, MyStar goes through sea trials, which is the last phase of shipbuilding. During the trials, a comprehensive technical inspection of the ship’s equipment as well as various loading tests are conducted.  

One of the two anomalies discovered during MyStar’s sea trials in early November has now been sorted out. During last weekend’s sea trials, it was discovered that the propulsion system needs further adjustments.   

After technical works are completed, the ship will go on another sea trial for a final technical inspection. After a successful sea trial, the ship will be ready to be handed over to Tallink. The exact date of the delivery will be announced later.  

MyStar will be the most technologically advanced and energy-efficient vessel on its route. The ship has five eight-cylinder multi-fuel engines that can use liquefied natural gas (LNG). 

Tallink MyStar in a nutshell 

• Length: 212.4 m 
• Width: 30.6 m 

• Draught: 7 m 
• Gross tonnage: 50,625 
• Speed: 27 knots 
• Lane metres: 3,190 
• Passengers: 2,800 

• Cabins: 46 
• Number of decks: 12 
• Ice class: 1A 
• Main engine power: 42,000 kW  
• Fuel: LNG  

Like many other Finnish shipyards and companies with project operations in Finland, Rauma Marine Constructions has had to face some difficult realities. The pandemic forced the shipyard to close down for weeks and prevented workers from coming in from abroad. The pandemic also disrupted global logistics by causing supply chain issues and delays. On the other hand, due to the war in Ukraine, inflation is soaring.

Rauma shipyard has agreed on ship orders at a fixed price. Construction work spans several years. Our current agreements have been made before any of the events of the past few years. It is evident that the orders are now becoming unprofitable with all the delays and cost overruns.

The Finnish government has understood the strategic importance of the shipyard and is ready to ensure that shipbuilding expertise remains in Finland. The government has supported the continuation of the shipyard’s operations significantly by granting it an equity subordinated loan.

Rauma shipyard has also taken a long look in the mirror. The company was once re-established on the ruins of the unlucky STX Finland. We have chosen to base our operations on a strong commitment to our network of subcontractors. The shipyard focuses on core competencies: project management, building the ships’ hull and assembly work. RMC works with a comprehensive network of subcontractors – our network partners.

Furthermore, major changes have been made in the shipyard’s management team. Mika Heiskanen, who has earned his qualifications in Turku shipyard’s management, has been appointed as the new CEO. The new Chairman of the Board Stig Gustavson is a notable figure in the Finnish industry sector with decades of experience at the helm of industrial companies.

“The financial performance of Rauma shipyard for this year will not be an easy read. The new management team is faced with a difficult task: they must turn the ship around and steer it in a direction where the shipyard can make a profit. Although RMC’s strategy has been proven correct, its execution – or “float-out” as we say in shipbuilding – is still widely incomplete”, Gustavson says.

RMC’s new management must begin their work from a challenging starting point. The Board of Directors has set up a six-month plan during which the company must show clear indicators of the new direction.

The board has created a framework for development. According to the outline, the construction of military and other government vessels will be assigned to RMC Defence, a subsidiary of RMC. A CEO will be appointed for RMC Defence. The board will continue to emphasise the strengthening of procurement and developing partner networks. The board also requires that the company’s organisational structure and allocation of financial responsibilities are clarified and implemented.

“The transformation process has begun, and it will be monitored closely. A thorough evaluation will be conducted after six months, in late March 2023. The board is fully assured that CEO Heiskanen will commit to his task on a 24/7 basis”, Gustavson says.

Today, Rauma shipyard celebrated the keel laying ceremony of Spirit of Tasmania IV, a vessel being built for the Tasmanian TT-Line Company.

A significant player in maritime transport between mainland Australia and Tasmania, TT-Line has commissioned two identical Spirit of Tasmania vessels from RMC. The large-scale project is the biggest individual foreign sale between Australia and Finland. The project will create a total of around 3,500 person-years’ worth of employment at the Rauma shipyard.

”Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the design and production of the Spirit of Tasmania vessels have proceeded according to the agreed schedule. The keel laying of the project’s first vessel is a wonderful demonstration of this. The good progression of the project is also a sign of a strong next year. We expect our turnover to grow significantly in 2023”, says Mika Heiskanen, CEO of RMC.

Spirit of Tasmania CEO and Managing Director Bernard Dwyer says it is an exciting time for the company.

“This keel laying ceremony is another important milestone for the project that takes us one step closer to having new vessels crossing Bass Strait.  We’re excited to join our partners RMC for the occasion and celebrate the build for Spirit of Tasmania IV tracking on time for delivery in the first quarter of 2024.”

“The arrival of the two new ferries in Australia in 2024 will be a significant moment for the company,” Dwyer says.

“Forty per cent larger than the current vessels, the investment we are making in these vessels is a once in a generation event that will deliver important benefits to Tasmania’s visitor economy and the broader economy.”

The keel of the vessel weighs 230 metric tons

The traditional keel laying ceremony celebrates the official first step in the ship’s construction, marking in effect the birth of the ship. The keel of a ship is lowered into the construction dock, and customary lucky coins are placed under it. Spirit of Tasmania’s massive L-222 keel weighs approximately 230 metric tons.

Currently, the Spirit of Tasmania-named vessels carry around 450,000 passengers each year. The new vessels will operate on an extremely challenging route across the Bass Strait between Geelong, Victoria, and Devonport, Tasmania. The ferries have been specially designed to undertake this specific route.

The vessels will hold 1,800 passengers each and their gross tonnage will be approximately 48,000 metric tons. The new vessels will replace the Finnish-built sister ships from the 1990s.

Construction of the first vessel will be completed at the start of 2024 and the second in late 2024.

Some vessels in Finland’s current fleet of icebreakers are reaching the end of their lifecycle. Therefore, the country’s next government must make plans for the acquisition of new icebreakers. It is also important to revive the dialogue between Finland and Sweden about Nordic collaboration in the project.

This was the outcome of the seminar on maritime winter navigation organised by Rauma Marine Constructions in Helsinki on 28 September 2022. The seminar addressed the meaning of winter navigation for Finland and ways to secure it in the future.

“Finland is the only country, all of whose harbours can freeze over during winter. Furthermore, Finnish foreign trade is dependent on maritime navigation. Maritime transport must be possible and secured year-round also from the perspective of security of supply”, said Olli Pekka Rantala, Director-General of Ministerial Governance Department at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, who spoke at the seminar.

Icebreaking is necessary despite global warming

Although global warming is expected to cause shorter winters in Finland, it will not eliminate the need for icebreakers and icebreaking expertise. For example, as the ice sheet gets thinner, the likelihood of pack ice may increase. Moreover, merchant vessels are growing in size, but their engine power and ability to sail in ice are being decreased to cut down on emissions and fuel consumption.

Replacing icebreakers is not only current in Finland but also in Sweden, where the vessels are older than those in Finland. A decision on replacing the vessels has already been made. Sweden has furthermore determined that the new icebreakers must be built in Europe. Sweden is currently negotiating about four new icebreakers for maritime areas, and one breaker to operate on lake Vättern.

Sweden has made preliminary inquiries of RMC’s interest in building the icebreakers. Rauma shipyard has extensive experience in building breakers. Between 1993 and 1998, three multi-purpose breakers were built at Rauma shipyard: Fennica, Nordica and Botnica.

New Board members from Patria and the Finnish Defence Forces

In order to strengthen the shipyard’s security of supply, RMC is changing the line-up of its Board of Directors. Stig Gustavson, a notable figure in the Finnish financial sector and an Honorary Doctor of Technology at both Tampere Tech University and Aalto University, will be the new Chairman of the Board. Mikko Niini, the previous Chairman, will continue to serve as a member of the Board. Petri Hepola, Chief Program Officer, HX at Patria, will join the Board as a member. Lars-Christian Schauman, Commercial Director of Strategic Programmes at the Finnish Defence Forces, will start as a new observer member of the Board. In addition, Karri Haaparinne and Tuomas Kaitila will continue as members of the Board. Observer member Jussi Hattula will also remain on the Board.

“Rauma shipyard has been reborn and is learning to operate efficiently in accordance with its networking strategy. We have already come a long way, but there is still much to do. With the new CEO taking over, we will be able to reach the production capacity the industry in Finland expects both in terms of the shipyard’s operation and technology”, says Stig Gustavson.