The vessel will be a new development of the Galaxy-type cruise ferry built by Aker Yards.

MS Galaxy is already operating since spring 2006, and the second one in the series is under construction at the yard in Helsinki to be delivered in spring 2008.

Aker Yards’ business area Cruise & Ferries now has in the orderbook in all 22 vessels, 11 of which are cruise vessels and 11 ferries. Two of them are for Tallink after the fast day ferry “Star” was delivered yesterday. The orderbook also includes the world’s biggest cruise ferry and two of the world’s largest ropax ferries.

Aker Yards, Cruse & Ferries, as well as the whole Aker Yards group believes strongly in harvesting synergies across both organisation and country borders. Competence and capacities are utilised according to best availability. For example part of the second “Galaxy” ferry was partly built in our French yard in St.Nazaire.

The 212 metres long and 29 m wide vessel will be one of the biggest and fastest cruise ferries in the Baltic Sea, having capacity for 2,800 passengers and with a speed of 24.5 knots. The guiding principle in designing the vessel has been paying attention to the comfort and luxury of present-day passengers. There will be maximal use of high-tech solutions onboard.

Over 900 cabins, several restaurants and places to entertain of various style and class as well as a remarkable conference centre with over 450 seats make the new ship a multi functional sea-based hotel with excellent ambience.

“Building the new cruise ferry for our important customer Tallink is another congenial challenge” comments Yrj Julin, President of Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries. “We have a long history with the combined Tallink Silja with in all19 delivered car-passenger ferries and several vessel conversions”