Viking Grace will return to service on January 29 after extensive upgrades and maintenance work totalling EUR 7 million at Turku Repair Yard. Among other improvements carried out during its three-week drydocking, the worn-out dance floor in the nightclub was replaced, a new world of showers was built in the spa and the tax-free store was updated. Extensive technical maintenance measures help to further reduce emissions from the vessel.

For nearly the entire month of January, Viking Grace has been docked in Naantali, Finland, for maintenance work in compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. Upgrades and maintenance work costing EUR 7 million were carried out, involving the labour of more than 300 professionals. Viking Grace will return to service on Thursday, January 29, for the morning departure from Stockholm.

At the shipyard, service work was carried out on, among other things, the vessel’s rudder, propeller shaft system and bow thruster. The electric generators, bow propellers and propulsion engines were checked and all systems adjusted to maximize operational safety and minimize the vessel’s environmental impact.

“Drydockings are a crucial part of maintaining the vessel’s safety, energy efficiency and value. Regular maintenance and technical improvements guarantee a high level of operational safety while reducing emissions. It is great that our Finnish-flagged vessel, which was built at the  Perno Shipyard, could be serviced in Naantali,” says Viking Grace’s intendant, Sari Launonen.

Along with the technical work, Viking Grace’s interiors and public spaces were updated. The vessel’s 1,600 m² tax-free shop has been give a new, fresh look, and its Archipelago Spa now has a new pool for cold bathing as well as a new world of showers.

The carpeting in the stairwells has been replaced and the walls have new wallpaper. In the Vogue nightclub, the furniture was updated and the 90 m² dance floor was replaced.

“People danced and partied so hard on Vogue’s dance floor for 13 years that there was nothing left of the parquet floor to sand. The new oak parquet floor will hold for at least 13 years,” Sari Launonen adds.

Viking Grace, which makes evening departures from Turku, is known in particular for its entertainment offering and star artists. This spring, the updated dance floor will rock to the sounds of Kaija Koo, Ares, Robin Packalen and KAJ.

The most important maintenance measures carried out at the shipyard

• Maintenance of systems below the waterline: rudder, propeller shaft system and thrusters
• Painting of the vessel’s bottom for improved corrosion protection and optimised fuel consumption
• Replacement of the control system serving the RoRo equipment and the HI‑FOG sprinkler system
• Maintenance of cargo handling equipment on the car deck
• Planned review and service of electric system, including generators, bow propellers and propulsion engines
• Energy optimization and adjustment of systems to ensure efficient operation, reduced environmental impact and high level of operational safety until the vessel’s next visit to the shipyard
• Touch up painting of the vessel’s exterior

Viking Grace

• Launched in January 2013
• Built at the Perno Shipyard in Turku
• Length 218 m, width 31.8 m
• Capacity 2,800 passengers
• Cabins 880, beds 2,980
• The first passenger ship in the world to use low-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel
• Total number of passengers since its launch 13.2 million