MS Megastar

MS Megastar is a fast ro-ro/passenger (ro-pax) ferry built by the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, for the Estonian shipping company Tallink. The 230 million euro vessel is the first ship in Tallink's fleet to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.

Megastar
History
Name: Megastar
Owner: Tallink
Port of registry: Tallinn,  Estonia
Route: Helsinki - Tallinn
Ordered: 27 February 2015
Builder: Meyer Turku, Finland
Cost: 230 million euro[1]
Yard number: 1391
Laid down: 9 February 2016[2]
Launched: 15 July 2016
Sponsored by: Tarja Halonen
Christened: 1 July 2016[3]
Completed: 24 January 2017
Maiden voyage: 29 January 2017
Identification:
General characteristics
Type: Ro-pax ferry
Tonnage: 49,000 GT
Length: 212 m (696 ft)
Ice class: 1A[4]
Installed power: 3 × Wärtsilä 12V50DF
2 × Wärtsilä 6L50DF
Propulsion: Diesel-electric; two shafts
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Capacity: 2,800 passengers

Construction

The construction of Tallink's new car ferry began 4 August 2015 and the keel was laid on 9 February 2016. On 1 July 2016, the ship was given the name Megastar, chosen from 21,550 naming proposals following a public naming contest,[5] by President Tarja Halonen. The vessel was floated out on 15 July and the sea trials were scheduled for late 2016.[3] The ship was delivered on 24 January 2017.[6]

Technical details

Megastar is powered by three 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 12V50DF and two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 6L50DF four-stroke dual-fuel generating sets. While capable of running on marine diesel oil (MDO), the engines will primarily use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. This reduces both sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and allows the vessel to comply with IMO Tier III emission limits as well as the additional restrictions of the Baltic Sea Sulphur Emission Control Area.[7] The gas fuel is stored in two 300 m3 (11,000 cu ft) cryogenic storage tanks which, unlike in the previous LNG-fueled cruiseferry Viking Grace, are located inside the hull of the vessel, below the main deck. The propulsion system is diesel-electric, meaning that instead of being mechanically coupled to the twin propeller shafts, the main engines form a power plant which produces electricity for all electrical consumers ranging from propulsion motors to auxiliary systems and hotel functions. This allows starting and stopping engines depending on power demand and improves the fuel efficiency as the engines can run at their nominal power.[8] The service speed of the vessel is 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph).[3]

Service history

After its completion and handover to Tallink the vessel began providing from late January 2017 a six times a day Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn service.[9]

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References
  1. Tallink tilasi uuden sukupolven LNG-laivan. Navigator Magazine, 5 March 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  2. Tallinkin uuden matkustajalautan köli lasketaan Turun telakalla. YLE, 9 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  3. LNG ferry Megastar christened. Meyer Werft. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  4. New designs and future headings. The Naval Architect, September 2016.
  5. Tallinkin uuden LNG-aluksen nimeksi Megastar. Tallink, 22 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  6. "Meyer Turku delivers LNG ferry". 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  7. Wärtsilän ympäristöystävälliset monipolttoainemoottorit uuteen Itämeren matkustaja-autolauttaan. Wärtsilä, 12 March 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  8. Megastar-laivasta: Moottorit. Tallink. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  9. Pagni, John (January 2020), "Tallinn Ho!: Tallink at 30 Rules the Baltic", Ships Monthly: 20–21CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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