Rauma Marine Constructions Building vessels for a better future

Rauma Marine Constructions is known for its advanced vessels tailored to meet challenging conditions, demands of a greener future and the needs of the Buyer. The Finnish shipyard has built the world’s first car and passenger ferry that has met the criteria of the Clean Design class notation.

The Finnish shipbuilding company Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) was founded in 2014 on a firm tradition of shipbuilding in Rauma shipyard stretching back to the 16th century. The northern shipyard knows what challenging sea conditions demand from ships. It specialises in highly innovative and tailored vessels that utilise the latest technology in order to stand the test of time and meet the criteria of a greener future.

Spirit of Tasmania – close-knit collaboration ensures the best possible outcome

With three vessels already delivered to their owners, the shipyard is currently building two next-generation car and passenger ferries for Spirit of Tasmania. The sister vessels are specifically designed to undertake an extremely challenging open sea route across the Bass Strait from mainland Australia to Tasmania. They will be able to maintain a steady travelling speed in the rough sea of the shallow strait.

The ferries are being built in close cooperation with Spirit of Tasmania to ensure the best possible outcome. As a part of this, a technical team from Spirit of Tasmania and the ships’ future captains are present at Rauma to get acquainted with the ferries even during the building process. The captains also have the chance to test drive the ferries with a simulation model.

When finished, the ferries will be equipped to operate with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and in the future with renewable fuels such as liquefied biogas (LBG) and synthetic e-fuels, making them futureproof in terms of green shipping.

Meeting the demands of a greener future and the needs of the Buyer

The Spirit of Tasmania ferries continue the line of RMC’s environmentally friendly vessels, such as My Star delivered to Tallink in 2022 and Aurora Botnia delivered to Wasaline in 2021. Aurora Botnia was the first car and passenger ferry in the world to meet the criteria of the Clean Design class notation.

The vessels built today must comply with not only current but also future regulations. This means taking into account green transition, alternative fuels, and the overall fuel efficiency of the ship. In addition, all ships constructed at Rauma shipyard are individually tailored to meet the Buyer’s needs.

One of the shipyard’s strengths is the ability to create and adopt innovations. Every vessel RMC has built has added to the sustainability trajectory of the next one.

RMC is also part of an initiative to develop a green corridor between Turku in Finland and Stockholm in Sweden. The initiative originated from the Clydebank Declaration for green shipping corridors and aims at a zero-emission shipping route.

Building three vessels side by side

RMC’s operational model leans on an ecosystem of long-term partners all working on their fields of expertise. An organisation of top experts, RMC acts as the prime contractor responsible for project management, functionality, and the top-level quality of the finished product.

This fall RMC will also start constructing the first of four multipurpose corvettes for the Finnish Navy. The corvettes are the only combat ships of this size to have an ice class. They are tailored to meet the conditions of the northern seas.

The corvettes will be built alongside the ferries for Spirit of Tasmania which means that RMC will be building three vessels at the same time. For security reasons, the corvettes will be built in a new construction hall designed especially for the project.

The total value of RMC’s orders is currently EUR 1 billion. The order book extends all the way to the end of the decade.

Every vessel RMC has built has added to the sustainability trajectory of the next one.

The vessels built today must comply with not only current but also future regulations.