Car and passenger ferries

Between the years 1990 and 2014, several different shipbuilding companies operated in Rauma. In total, they built nearly 40 commercial vessels, and their clients included nearly all the major operators in Northern Europe:

  • Stena Line
  • TT-Line
  • Scandlines
  • Irish Ferries
  • SeaFrance
  • Tallink-Silja
  • North Link (Caledonian McBryne)
  • Color Line
  • P&O Ferries

Many of our staff had a long career working in previous shipbuilding companies that operated in Rauma. By combining their many decades’ worth of experience and expertise in building modern ships we are able to produce top-level, technologically advanced vessels for demanding conditions that are tailored to our client’s needs.

2023 & 2024: Spirit of Tasmania IV & V

In 2021, we signed a deal with the Tasmanian TT-Line Company (Spirit of Tasmania) for the construction of two car and passenger ferries, both of which will be sailing an extremely challenging open sea route across the Bass Strait between Geelong, Victoria in mainland Australia and Devonport, Tasmania. The ferries have been specially designed to undertake this specific route.

When finished, the ferries will be the southernmost vessels to operate with liquefied natural gas (LNG). In addition, they will also incorporate a dual fuel solution, which will allow them to use alternative, bio-based fuels if needed.

The production of the first vessel began in February 2022.

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2022: MyStar

The new MyStar ship constructed for Tallink is RMC’s third order for a newbuilding vessel. It is also the seventh vessel to be built for Tallink in Rauma.

The ship is fuelled by LNG which produces fewer emissions than marine diesel oil. In addition to the fuel solution, the designing process of MyStar has emphasised maximising the energy efficiency of the vessel. The vessel’s power station is configured in a way that it is easily optimised to minimise fuel consumption. Furthermore, the ship’s improved data collection system allows the crew to operate the vessel in the most energy-efficient manner.

In November 2021, MyStar was moved to the fitting-out dock, and the ship delivered to Tallink in December 2022.

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2021: Aurora Botnia

RMC’s second newbuilding vessel, Aurora Botnia, was handed over to Wasaline in August 2021. The vessel operates on the route between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden.

The vessel is equipped with the latest environmental technology. It is significantly more environmentally friendly than the current legislative requirements, which makes it the first car and passenger ferry in the world to meet the criteria of the Clean Design class notation. Thanks to battery technology and bio-based fuels the ship’s emissions are half that of its predecessor, Wasa Express.

The year the ferry was finished, an international panel awarded it with The RoPax of the Year Award, and the following year with Shippax Design & Technology Award. In 2022, Aurora Botnia was awarded the Key Flag Symbol, which indicates the product has a high domestic content of over 80 per cent.

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2018: Hammershus

Rauma Marine Constructions completed its first newbuilding vessel for Danish shipping company Molslinjen, a car and passenger ferry named Hammershus, at Rauma Shipyard in the summer of 2018.

The car and passenger ferry can travel up to 17.7 knots and it runs on sulphur-free fuel. The vessel also consumes significantly less fuel compared to previous vessels. This was made possible by the fuel-efficient Wärtsilä main engines, as well as the shape of the hull. In addition, the vessel complies with all current and upcoming environmental regulations.

The primary operating route of the ferry is between Køge, Zealand and Rønne, Bornholm, but the ferry will also see use for a shorter period of the year on the route between Rønne and Sassnitz in Germany.

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