The Finnsirius, built in China, is primarily a cargo vessel, but it also takes passengers without vehicles on board. It has as many lane metres as three similar ships in Turku combined.
Finnlines’ new vessel, which started operating in mid-September, was expected to compete with three Swedish ships sailing from Turku.
However, the cruise guests have not yet crowded onto Finnsirius. Heavy vehicle drivers still make up the majority of passengers on the Naantali-Kapellskäri route.
The vessel can carry 1 100 passengers, while Viking Line and Tallink’s vessels carry almost 3 000 passengers.
The amount seems small, but the main purpose of the ship can be seen on the cargo deck. Finnsirius seems to be above all a cargo ship. There are 5,200 lane meters, which is as much as three other shipping companies’ Swedish ships on the Turku route combined.
Finnlines still operates the Finnswan ship on the same route. Next year it will be replaced by another vessel being built in China, the Finncanopus. With two new ships on the route, more foot passengers are also expected to come.
Agile giant
Coming to ports in particular is such a precise job that the responsibility is not given to automation.
– Finnsirius is an agile ship. There are more bow thrusters than previous ships, and the plane has more power. Although this is a larger ship, it turns easily, says Dahlberg.
The ship’s storm resistance has already been tested on the way from China to Naantali. The typhoon had winds of 35 meters per second. The storm that blew in the Archipelago Sea in the early days of October did not leave Finnsirius at the pier.
– Långnäs pier in Åland was in the right direction, so we did well.
Captain Timo Dahlberg also goes as a guide to the cargo decks when the ship is loaded in Kapellskär. He also admits that transporting cargo is the most important function of the new ship.
– From Tuesday to Friday, it’s absolutely full here, says Dahlberg.
Freight carriers and cruise guests in harmony
It is rare to see professional drivers wearing work clothes on a standard Swedish ship. Their presence has been moved somewhere else or no attention has been paid to them if there are people to the point of congestion.
On Finnsirius, the professional drivers get up from the cargo decks to the same floors as the cruise passengers, and dine in the same large restaurant.
– At least you can turn around in the corridor in this cabin. There is plenty of space. I have sometimes been in an upper bed where it has been difficult to turn the side when the ceiling meets, says Wendelin.
Kim Wendelin emphasizes that it is important for drivers to recover well, also for the sake of traffic safety.
– Good conditions can attract more young people to the industry, hopes Wendelin.
The return of cruise tourism is important for the port of Naantali
Millions of dollars worth of investments have been made in the port of Naantali for Finnlines’ new ships.
The last time cruise passengers traveling without a vehicle were taken on board about 30 years ago.
The terminal will have a second floor. There are already 50 new parking spaces in use.
– Port development is a whole. When there have been no cruise passengers for 30 years, fine-tuning is enough. During the last couple of years, several millions have been invested. If you don’t do anything, you won’t achieve anything either, says Vainiala.
*You can discuss the topic until 23:00 on October 19, 2023.*