Largest electric ferry to link Finland and Estonia

June 10, 2025

A Finnish shipping company has unveiled plans for the world’s largest fully electric passenger-car ferry to support the formation of a green maritime corridor across the Gulf of Finland.

With its newly unveiled ferry concept, dubbed Helios, Åland-based Viking Line aims to establish a fully emission-free route between Helsinki and Tallinn, with operations expected to begin as early as the 2030s.

The massive vessel, which measures 640 feet (195 meters) in length and 98 feet (30 meters) in width, is a powerful symbol of how sustainable technology is finally catching up with large-scale transportation.

“Helios heralds a new era in maritime transport, just like the first sail, steam, and motor ships did in their time,” Jan Hanses, Viking Line’s CEO, said. “The concept proves that large-scale emission-free maritime transport is no longer a utopia.”

The ferry of the future

Designed to carry up to 2,000 passengers, 650 cars, and 1.2 miles (two kilometers) of freight, the massive vessel will rely entirely on electric propulsion, drawing power from a battery system with a capacity ranging between 85 and 100 megawatt-hours (MWh).

According to the company, the vessel’s battery capacity is several times greater than any passenger ship’s. Moreover, it holds enough energy to complete the 43-nautical-mile (80-kilometer) journey between Helsinki and Tallinn in just over two hours, cruising at approximately 23 knots.

Hanses stated that the all-electric ferry could set sail as early as the start of the next decade. “We are strongly committed to realizing the ambitious vision that Helios represents,” Hanses continued.

Launched by the cities of Helsinki and Tallinn, the project is part of the FIN-EST Green Corridor initiative, which aims to create a fully emission-free maritime route between Finland and Estonia.

In addition, one of the vessel’s most notable design features is the complete absence of a traditional funnel, as part of an intentional move that underscores its zero-emission operation.

Instead of releasing exhaust, the ferry will recharge while docked, drawing over 30 megawatt-hours (MWh) of power from port-based charging infrastructure each time it arrives. The Port of Helsinki is currently working to meet this challenge through its ongoing expansion project, which will run until 2032.

A tradition of maritime breakthroughs

Helios isn’t the company’s first maritime innovation, as it previously launched the world’s first passenger vessel powered by both liquefied natural gas and biogas dubbed Viking Grace in 2013.

Viking Line then took sustainable travel a step further by launching an even more climate-smart vessel called Viking Glory in 2022. The firm has allowed passengers to choose biofuel for an added fee through these ship investments, cutting trip emissions by up to 90 percent.

With most passenger and freight traffic from the Port of Helsinki bound for Estonia, forecasts suggest that passenger numbers between the city’s West Harbor and Tallinn will grow from 5.5 million in 2024 to 11.6 million by 2040. Cargo volumes are also expected to increase significantly.

“The Helsinki–Tallinn route performed particularly well last year, and we believe volume will continue to increase – there is strong demand, based on need, for connections between Finland and the Baltics,” Hanses said in a press release.

“EU emissions trading fees and tightening regulations place an ever larger burden on fossil fuel-based maritime traffic every year, but emission-free technology would enable us to increase capacity on the route,” he concluded, adding that the company aims to order two electric ships for the route to double the current capacity year-round.

As EU emissions trading fees rise and regulations on fossil-fuel shipping tighten, the company believes vessels like Helios could offer not just a greener solution, but also a more cost-effective one in the long term.