Finnish ferry owner Viking Line has signed up for a new 1,500-passenger ship at Astilleros de Sevilla in Spain, three months after letting options lapse for 2 bigger vessels at Aker Yards.
The company said the ferry will carry 520 cars and will cost EUR 60 mn ($77.73 mn), reports TradeWinds.

It will be delivered in March 2009 and operate between Mariehamn in the Finnish Aland islands and Kapellskar in Sweden.

The route is served at the moment by the 6,200-gt veteran "Alandsfarjan" (built 1972).

Aker Yards is building a 2,500-passenger fast ferry for the Helsinki to Tallinn service for delivery in January 2008 at a cost of EUR 120 mn.

But Viking decided not to go ahead with 2 sisterships. It currently operates 7 ferries.