Finncanopus: Finnlines’ second Superstar delivered

Five years after its launch in 2018, Finnlines’ Green Newbuilding Program – comprising three ro-ro and two ro-pax ships – was finally completed: the last hybrid vessel ordered by the Grimaldi Group company was delivered at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai on 12 December. Named the Finncanopus, she is the second of two Superstar-series ro-pax vessels; together with her sister ship Finnsirius, she will “support customers in their transition towards sustainability and environmental responsibility,” as Finnlines President & CEO Tom Pippingsköld said.

With capacity of 5,200 lane metres for cargo and 1,100 passengers, the Superstar-class ro-pax vessels are the largest in the Finnlines fleet. They also transport cargo more sustainably. For example, they are equipped with enormous high-power battery banks and onshore power supply in order to have zero emissions while in port. Port operations are also more efficient with auto-mooring, while the design of the shipboard facilities and services helps meet passengers’ expectations in the most sustainable way.

The Finncanopus’s homeward voyage from China is expected to take 6 or 7 weeks, as she will be nearly fully loaded with freight and will call at several ports before entering the Baltic Sea. She is scheduled to join the Finnsirius on the regular Naantali (Finland)–Långnäs (Åland Islands)–Kapellskär (Sweden) service in February.

“Finnlines is the market leader on this route and our new Superstar vessels set a completely new standard for ro-pax transport in the Baltic Sea, both for freight and passenger traffic,” pointed out Line Manager Antonio Raimo. “The Finnsirius has been warmly welcomed by both private passengers and lorry drivers, who all appreciate the upgraded services. When the Finncanopus starts operating, the current smaller ro-pax vessel deployed will be transferred to our route between Sweden and Germany. This way we can improve our services on another important maritime link,” he concluded.