SIMIC

THE Port of Kapellskar, 90 kilometres from Stockholm, has docked the new Finnlines vessel compatible with the new automooring system that uses vacuum pads, reported the American Journal of Transportation.

Mid-September was the premiere of Sweden's first automooring of a vessel using vacuum technology. The brand new Finnlines vessel, M/S Finnsirius, which operates on the Kapellskar - Langnas - Naantali route, now docks using vacuum pads. The pads can dock and undock the vessel in less than 30 and 15 seconds, respectively.



"Together with Finnlines, we have planned and updated Port of Kapellskar with brand new technology before the brand new Finnlines vessel arrived.



Automooring using vacuum technology improves sustainability by providing a safer working environment and reduced environmental impact," said Ports of Stockholm commercial officer Johan Wallen.



Automooring with vacuum technology eliminates the risk of injury, as it is work handling conventional mooring lines, that carries the greatest injury risk during a vessel call.



Operative efficiency is also improved as the mooring time is reduced. The vessels engines can be stopped earlier, which leads to a significant fuel saving and reduced NOx and CO2 emissions, especially when combined with connection to onshore power.