Yards

RMC collaborates with its client to build car and passenger ferries for Tasmania’s challenging sea conditions

The demanding routes and fierce conditions of the Bass Strait served as the key reference framework for the design and building of the Spirit of Tasmania ships, a commission to which RMC has provided its best expertise, shipbuilding experience and skills. These car and passenger ferries, which are vital to Tasmania’s foreign trade, tourism and human mobility, incorporate several pioneering and unique innovations, all supported by Rauma’s specialised shipbuilding competence. Close co-operation with our Tasmanian clients has ensured the success of this project.

Spirits are high at Rauma Marine Construction (RMC)! The first of the world’s two southernmost regularly operating LNG car and passenger ferries has been delivered to the client. The ship is intended to serve both trade and passenger transport along the vital open sea route between Australia and Tasmania. Its sister ship, Spirit of Tasmania V, is due to be completed in the spring of 2025. The two Spirit of Tasmania ships will significantly increase the passenger, vehicle and freight capacity, while also enabling Spirit of Tasmania, as a company, to better meet its customer needs and environmental aspects. The shipping transaction between RMC and TT-Line Company marks the largest single export transaction between Australia and Finland. The contract was signed in 2021.

SEAMLESS COLLABORATION AND TRUST ENSURE SUCCESS

At the start of the project, five Spirit of Tasmania employees and their families relocated to Finland. The operational approach and trust between the people and organisations involved were initiated from the ground up on all levels of the organisation. The cultural convergence of warm, southern Australia and northern Finnish began with an introduction to ice hockey in Rauma, and a lot of time has been spent together, for example, at outdoor barbecues. Those involved have gathered daily around the same table in the spirit of teamwork to advance the project. The technical and major geopolitical challenges encountered during the years of construction have been overcome through a cooperative and discursive approach to issue resolution.

INNOVATIVE AND CUSTOM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS THAT MEET CLIENT SPECIFICATIONS

The co-operation between RMC and TTLine Company, which is owned by the state of Tasmania and operates under the name Spirit of Tasmania, enabled the companies to build tailored ships capable of handling the marine conditions, waves and environmental conditions along the extremely demanding but essential route across the Bass Strait between Devonport in Tasmania and Geelong in Victoria.

The new Spirit of Tasmania ships are longer, wider and taller than their predecessors. The new ships will increase the annual passenger capacity on the Bass Strait route by almost 30 per cent, the lane metres for passenger cars and freight by 60 per cent, and the cabin capacity by approximately 35 per cent, while the environmental impact of shipping will be significantly reduced.

The new ships will bring a significant boost to Tasmania’s economy. Bernard Dwyer, Managing Director and CEO of Spirit of Tasmania, described the ships as the start of a new era in passenger and freight traffic across the Bass Strait.

“The official handover of the vessel from RMC to TT-Line was a significant milestone in this generational project for the State of Tasmania,” he said.

“While there are some very minor works to be completed by RMC, we are delighted with the vessel that we are taking possession of. We know Spirit of Tasmania IV will serve Tasmania and all those who travel on her between mainland Australia and the island State very well. We are excited to take this next significant step in the project.”

“Spirit of Tasmania IV is the first of its kind in many aspects and is equipped with several customised solutions designed in accordance to the client’s wishes. Among other things, the ship is the first car and passenger ferry of this size with dual-fuel engines that mechanically rotate the ship’s two propellers. It is important that TT-Line has been closely involved in the design of the ship from the very beginning, since it has enabled us to consider the technology solutions they require and the vessel’s demanding operating conditions,” says Mika Nieminen, CEO and President of RMC.

Johanna Kaijo, Project Manager for RMC’s Spirit of Tasmania vessel builds, explains that the project has required many innovative solutions, for example, to meet the natural conservation values required by the Tasmanian authorities, to take into account Tasmania’s environmental standards and to optimise seagoing properties of the hull design and strength dimensioning.

“This is a particularly demanding route through potentially stormy seas, requiring special solutions in the planning and building of ships for the specific Bass Strait conditions. For example, especially large stabilizers ensure the best possible travel comfort in heavy swells. In addition, special attention was given to keeping vibration and noise levels low as part of the ship’s design. A significant amount of interior furnishings and materials were sourced from Tasmania in order for the ship to better reflect its home country,” says Johanna Kaijo.

Spirit of Tasmania IV is the first ship in the world to have the circuit breakers and switches of the ship’s electrical power distribution realised using an integrated bus solution. This helps conserve fuel and facilitates the tracking of energy savings. The system was implemented by the Kankaanpää-based company Promeco using ABB’s Ekip Link solution.

This project also marked the first time RMC used silicone paint on the hull of the ship, a point of pride for Project Manager Kaijo. The work required unique knowhow and precise timing. The priming had to be carried out so that the first layer could dry in fair weather, with the next layer applied within a certain time frame, and that required a period of solidly dry weather. For this purpose, weather forecasting sites were extensively studied by many people.

“Silicone painting significantly decreases the use of fuel during operation, thus reducing the operating costs of the ship. Furthermore, silicone paint keeps the bottom of the ship clean of impurities and reduces the need to wash the base. The decrease in fuel consumption has a positive impact on the Spirit of Tasmania’s efforts to realise its environmental values. The challenge with silicone painting is that it is sensitive to mechanical contact. For this reason, the ships can only sail from Rauma to Tasmania in ice-free conditions,” explains Kaijo.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA SHIPS ARE FINE EXAMPLES OF THE STRONG SHIPBUILDING EXPERTISE FOUND IN RAUMA

Throughout the construction of the shiny new Spirit of Tasmania IV, the shipyard and its subcontractors worked hard during the heart of the winter when temperatures dropped below –20°C and in the middle of the summer when temperatures reached equal levels on the plus side. At its peak, more than 1,500 people were working on building the ships at the same time. The employment impact of Spirit of Tasmania ships is more than 3,500 person-years.

A significant part of the project is being carried out through co-operation with a network of partners. The COVID- 19 pandemic and the global unrest resulting from the war in Ukraine had an impact on the availability of raw materials and labour as well as causing cost increases, which made the building process particularly challenging. Despite that, approximately 30 shipyard subcontractors and over 300 suppliers operating at the shipyard during the construction phase managed to carry the project forward decisively together with RMC’s personnel. According to Mikko Jaskari, Acquisition Manager, the delivery of the first ship was only possible because of the project’s competent and adaptable network.

Throughout the project, RMC invested in a completely new way to develop its project expertise and increase its capabilities. The sister ship, Spirit of Tasmania V, will be completed on a faster schedule than the first. The construction of Spirit of Tasmania V began in December 2022 and the ship was launched in July 2024. The sister ship will travel from Rauma to Tasmania after the ice in the Bothnian Sea melts in the spring of 2025. RMC’s investments in competence, infrastructure and technology are visible in the Tasmanian ships. RMC has taken a strong process management model into use and has focused on further developing its competence through recruitment, training and on-the-job learning.

INTERIOR DESIGN SOLUTIONS REFLECT BOTH TASMANIA AND WESTERN FINLAND

When the hull work was completed, interior work on the ship began, including plumbing and electrical work, as well as the furnishing of the cabin areas and restaurants. Special skills were required for the outfitting of the ship’s engine rooms and car decks, as well as the commissioning of different systems.

The majority of RMC’s supplier network is located within a 150 km radius of the shipyard, but the construction called for a broader use of unique Finnish expertise and introduced special features and materials from Tasmania.

Johanna Kaijo is very pleased with the interior design solutions. One of the important functions of the Spirit of Tasmania ships is to promote tourism in Tasmania. Richard Andree Nilsson, an architect at the Swedish architectural firm Figura, worked hard to expertly integrate characteristics of Tasmania’s various regions in the ship’s interior solutions.

Elements used in the interior design, such as wood salvaged from Lake Pieman, were sourced directly from Tasmania. Finnish expertise can be seen, for example, in the kitchens, which were designed and implemented by LMG Finland Oy in Eura, Finland.

“Now that the first Spirit of Tasmania ship has been delivered to the client, it’s great to see that everything works on the ship precisely as planned. The smooth and continuous collaboration with the client was essential for this successful outcome. It has been very solution-oriented and was boosted by the fact that Tasmanians have a very positive attitude towards life,” says Johanna Kaijo, Project Manager for Spirit of Tasmania ships.

THE COMPANY’S FIRST COMPLETELY NEW AND SPECIFICALLY TAILORED SHIPS

In the winter of 2022, John Anastassiou, Technical Project Manager of TT-Line, left the warmth of Tasmania and arrived in Rauma to ensure that the ship projects were progressing as intended from TTLine’s perspective. Anastassiou describes his posting in Rauma as a wonderful experience.

He states that the most important aspect of overseeing the construction of new ships has been integrating those issues that TT-Line has learned in the past about the needs of its different customers: how to create an even better travel experience in terms of the cabins, restaurants and other services.

“This is the first time TT-Line has acquired completely new ships. Our overall goal, to put it simply, was to acquire bigger and better ships that are fully tailored to our needs and the conditions of the Bass Strait,” says John Anastassiou.

This simple goal, however, involved an enormous number of details that were further honed during the construction project. This investment is huge for TT-Line. The service life of the ships will be more than 25 years, so the investment will be worth it. Anastassiou says that the best technology and expertise has been used to craft these ships and all specifications have been entirely guided by the needs of TT-Line.

“The collaboration with RMC has been excellent. We have a written contract for the overall construction of the ships, of course, but we have worked together throughout the entire construction project in order to guarantee that all the details of the ships will fully meet our needs,” adds Anastassiou.

As an example, he mentions the Finnish- made dual-fuel engines, which will help to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 per cent in comparison to existing ships. Lower emissions are realised through lower fuel consumption, which also means lower fuel costs.

“I can confidently say that this is a high-quality vessel. We are very pleased that the ships have been built in Finland, and Rauma in particular, where expertise and subcontracting networks are of the highest quality. It has been a significant asset for us,” says Anastassiou.

John Anastassiou and his wife will be returning to Tasmania in spring 2025, when Spirit of Tasmania V returns to its home port.

MOST SIGNIFICANT EXPORT DEAL

The trade deal of two Spirit of Tasmania vessels by TT-Line Company and Rauma Marine Constructions is also one of the largest export deals ever to have taken place between Finland and Australia. The contract was signed in 2021 and the latter of the two ships is set to be delivered to the TT-Line Company in spring 2025.

Known for his more than four decades in the shipbuilding industry, Håkan Enlund, EVP of Sales and Marketing at RMC, is responsible for the trade deal. There were special issues involved in the establishment of this deal that required good connections and perseverance. Among them, Enlund highlights the fact that the Spirit of Tasmania ships will be exposed to extremely demanding weather and sea conditions.

“The vessels have been designed to meet the needs of the Bass Strait and the business conditions of the client. RMC specialises in large and fast car and passenger ferries. This is where RMC holds a leading position on a global scale,” confirms Enlund.

First negotiations with the Tasmanians were initiated already in 2008, but it was not until late 2019 that the parties sat down once again at the negotiating table. The contract was finally signed in 2021, but with a special twist.

“The contracts for the construction of Spirit of Tasmania IV and V are the only contracts I have signed remotely in my 44-year career,” states Enlund.

In addition to the pandemic, certain geopolitical issues challenged the construction of the Tasmanian ships.

“We can’t influence geopolitics. We can, however, remain focused on our belief in the future. Once both ships are in traffic, we will see the benefits of our efforts for Tasmania and TT-Line. That’s when we will be truly satisfied,” Enlund believes.

STRONG CONTINUITY FOR THE NEW SHIPYARD IN RAUMA

In connection with the construction of the Tasmanian vessels and under the leadership of Mika Nieminen, who took his position as CEO and President of RMC in spring 2023, the shipyard has adopted a new industrial approach. The shipyard’s order book extends until 2028, but according to Nieminen, after the delivery of both Tasmanian vessels, it will be possible for the shipyard to start building new vessels alongside the multi-purpose corvettes under construction.

“In the future, we would like to take advantage of our special expertise in winter navigation to build icebreakers and other ice-strengthened vessels for both the public and private sectors. We are interested in co-operation with other countries who operate in icy conditions. It would be natural to increase co-operation with other Nordic countries, especially Sweden.”

Nieminen considers Rauma, as a strategic port location, to be uniquely positioned for shipbuilding projects such as icebreakers or, for example, collaboration with NATO partners. Rauma’s renewed shipyard has invested in a secure environment where the entire construction project can be carried out in a single shipyard area. Investments have been made in steel production, a hall has been built for indoor shipbuilding and a new heavy transfer ramp and quay are also under construction for launching purposes.

RMC has invested in the construction of hybrid ships and conversion of ships to become hybrid-powered; one example of which is the Rauma-built Aurora Botnia. RMC is currently working on the FUSE project to explore the concept of a fully electric ship. RMC estimates that stricter emissions requirements will accelerate the demand for cleaner ships.

“We offer a very concrete value proposition: we provide a strong demonstration of Finnish expertise that is tailored to our clients’ needs and meets all current requirements,” assures Mika Nieminen, CEO and President of RMC.

by: RAUMA MARINE CONSTRUCTIONS
photos: RAUMA MARINE CONSTRUCTIONS