During the first year in service of the dual-fuelled Aurora Botnia ferry, owner Wasaline has been able to reduce its total CO2 emissions by 51.8 per cent.
Aurora Botnia began operating between between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden in Autumn 2021.
She replaced Wasa Express, which used heavy fuel oil and marine diesel oil as fuels. Wasaline’s calculation of its CO2 emissions reduction is based on Wasa Express’s first year in service in 2013.
After Aurora Botnia entered service, total CO2 emissions have been reduced from 22,000 metric tons to 11,000 tons. Average emissions per departure are down from 29.57 tons to 9.71 tons.
Wasaline also highlights that Aurora Botnia has a busier weekly departure schedule than its predecessor so the reduction in average emissions per departure is even greater, at 67.2%
‘We have been able to reduce emissions significantly in a challenging situation where fuel costs have increased rapidly. The reduction would be even greater if we could use LNG all the time. However, the record-high market prices of gas have forced us to use diesel as an alternative,’ commented Wasaline’s MD, Peter Ståhlberg.
‘We strive to keep Aurora Botnia as the world’s most environmentally friendly ferry now and in the future. We also see the proposed emissions trading in maritime transport as a positive development, as long as the rules treat all shipping companies equally.’
