The Finnlines shipping company is getting three newbuildings for its Germany ferry as part of a large-scale fleet modernization programme by the Grimaldi Group. Details of the design have now been announced.
The Finnish design office Deltamarin has signed a contract with China Merchants Weihai Shipyard for the design and engineering of Finnlines’ new “Hansa Superstar” class RoPax vessels.
The signed contract covers the complete basic and detailed design of three RoPax vessels to be built for Finnlines and deployed in the Baltic Sea. They are part of a larger series of newbuildings recently announced by Finnlines’ Italian parent company Grimaldi.
The contract continues the successful cooperation between Deltamarin, Finnlines and the Weihai shipyard after the concept and contract planning for the vessels was finalized earlier this year, according to the statement. Deltamarin, based in Finland, is a subsidiary of the China Merchants Group, to which the shipyard also belongs.
The majority of the work should be completed by the beginning of 2026. The new design is reportedly a further development of the Superstar-class ships, “but with improved transport quality for both rolling cargo and passengers in the Baltic Sea”. The new design has been adapted to the Finland-Germany route and is said to be better suited to longer crossings, feature new cabin categories and offer restaurant options tailored to different passenger preferences, with a focus on the overall onboard experience.
Key features include “multi-fuel engines” – including those capable of running on methanol fuel – optimized hull and propeller designs, shore power connections and energy-efficient onboard energy management systems both at sea and in port, which are expected to contribute to a reduction in CO₂ emissions per unit of cargo transported of more than 50% compared to vessels currently operating on the same routes.
Each 240-meter-long ship offers 5,100 meters of cargo space for rolling freight, room for 90 cars and up to 1,100 passengers in 320 cabins. They are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029.
“Together with Deltamarin, we have developed Superstar-class vessels that set a completely new standard for freight and passenger transport on the Baltic Sea. With our new investment program, we are proud to continue this journey together,” said Juha Ahia, Manager of Newbuilding & Projects at Finnlines.
“The signed contract is a continuation of a long-standing partnership between Deltamarin and Weihai Shipyard. This latest order brings the total number of RoPax vessels designed by Deltamarin and built by Weihai Shipyard to 22 in the last 10 years,” said Janne Uotila, Managing Director of Deltamarin.
