Viking Line to slash emissions by 90% in Baltic Sea’s first green corridor

In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable maritime transport, Viking Line has announced that its vessels serving the Turku-Stockholm route will reduce emissions by 90% for an entire week. This historic initiative, which aligns with Baltic Sea Day, will see the company’s vessels, Viking Glory and Viking Grace, powered exclusively by liquefied biogas (LBG) from August 29 to September 4.

The shift to LBG represents a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) typically used. According to Viking Line, this change will result in approximately 2,600 fewer tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of 270 Finns.

“This is a historic moment for us, the Baltic Sea, and maritime transport. Scheduled service has never before been powered solely by biofuel,” stated Dani Lindberg, Viking Line’s Sustainability Manager. He emphasized the company’s commitment, highlighting a €450 million investment in climate-smart vessels and long-term environmental efforts.

The move to biogas is part of Viking Line’s broader strategy to develop green shipping corridors on the Baltic Sea, with future plans for carbon-neutral routes between Turku-Stockholm and Helsinki-Tallinn. The company’s biogas is sourced from Gasum, a European provider that produces the fuel from food and agricultural waste.

This milestone comes after a year of offering passengers and cargo customers the option to purchase biofuel to offset their travel emissions, a choice that has seen a 500% increase in uptake. Viking Line hopes that this initiative will spur demand for renewable fuels, ultimately lowering costs and increasing availability.

This initiative by Viking Line, announced in a press release, reflects the increasing importance of sustainability in maritime transport, driven by EU regulations and international climate commitments.