🌿 SUSTAINABILITY

Environment & Technology · Helsinki–Tallinn

Sustainable
across the Baltic

Megastar and MyStar by Tallink set new standards: LNG propulsion, electric drivetrain, shore power and intelligent energy optimisation. The most eco-friendly ferries on the Gulf of Finland.

LNG

Liquefied natural gas

30%

less energy (MyStar)

0% SOx

Sulphur dioxide

1A Super

Ice class

Propulsion technology

LNG: Liquefied Natural Gas as Fuel

LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) is the cleanest fossil fuel for maritime transport — an important stepping stone on the path to emission-free ferries.

💨

-25%

CO₂ compared to heavy fuel oil (HFO)

🍃

-99%

SOx (sulphur dioxide) compared to HFO

☁️

-85%

NOx (nitrogen oxides) compared to HFO

🪦

-99%

Particulate matter compared to HFO

What is LNG?

LNG is natural gas cooled to -162 °C, reducing it to 1/600th of its original volume. It is odourless, non-toxic and non-corrosive. Combustion produces virtually no sulphur or particulate emissions. Both Tallink vessels on the Helsinki–Tallinn route run on LNG and can prospectively also use biogas (Bio-LNG).

The fleet

Megastar & MyStar: Environmental Profiles

Two LNG sister ships — Megastar as the pioneer since 2017, MyStar as the optimised successor since 2022.

LNG

Primary fuel

1A Super

Ice class

2017

Entered service

212 m

Length

First LNG-powered Ro-Pax ferry by Tallink
ABB OCTOPUS energy optimisation system
Shore power system since January 2022 (Naantali)
Ice class 1A Super: year-round Baltic operation
Built at Meyer Turku shipyard, Finland

LNG

Primary fuel

-30%

Energy consumption

2022

Entered service

212.4 m

Length

30% more energy-efficient than predecessor Star
LNG tanks 30% larger than Megastar (fewer bunkering operations)
Electric drivetrain — biogas-capable (Bio-LNG)
Smart Car Cargo Deck: optimised vehicle loading
ABB OCTOPUS energy optimisation
Built at RMC shipyard, Rauma, Finland

Technologies

Sustainability Technologies on Board

⚡

Shore Power

Shore-side electricity supply in port: engines off, power from the grid. Megastar system installed since January 2022 in Naantali.

🤖

ABB OCTOPUS

Intelligent energy optimisation: calculates the most efficient route, speed and engine output in real time.

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Smart Car Deck

Optimised vehicle loading on MyStar: fewer empty spaces, more efficient use of freight capacity.

❄️

Ice Class 1A Super

Highest Finnish-Swedish ice class. Year-round operation without icebreakers — no seasonal route changes.

Environmental comparison

Propulsion Technology Compared

How sustainable are the three ferry operators on the Helsinki–Tallinn route in comparison?

Criterion	Tallink (Megastar/MyStar)	Viking Line (XPRS)	Eckero Line (Finlandia)
Fuel	LNG (liquefied natural gas)	Conventional diesel (MGO/MDO)	Conventional diesel (MGO/MDO)
Year built	2017 (Megastar) / 2022 (MyStar)	2008	2010
SOx emissions	Near zero	Low (low-sulphur diesel)	Low (low-sulphur diesel)
NOx emissions	-85% compared to HFO	Standard	Standard
CO₂ emissions	-25% compared to HFO	Standard	Standard
Shore Power	Yes (Megastar, since 2022)	No	No
Energy optimisation	ABB OCTOPUS	Not known	Not known
Biogas-capable	Yes (MyStar: Bio-LNG ready)	No	No

Note on context

All operators comply with the strict SECA regulations (Sulphur Emission Control Area) of the Baltic Sea. However, Tallink goes significantly beyond the legal requirements with its LNG propulsion. Viking Line and Eckero Line use low-sulphur diesel.

Future: Bio-LNG & Electrification

MyStar is already prepared for operation with Bio-LNG (synthetic or biomass-derived). In the long term, battery-hybrid solutions and hydrogen could be the next steps.

In focus

MyStar: The Next Generation

Commissioned in 2022, MyStar is the most sustainable vessel in the Tallink fleet to date, setting several technological benchmarks.

30% more energy-efficient

Compared to its predecessor MS Star, MyStar uses 30% less energy per crossing — despite the same passenger capacity of 2,800 persons.

Larger LNG tanks

MyStar's LNG tanks are 30% larger than Megastar's. This means fewer bunkering operations in port and thus fewer logistics-related emissions.

Electric drivetrain

MyStar uses a fully electric drivetrain: the LNG engines generate electricity, which powers the propellers via electric motors. More efficient and lower-maintenance than mechanical drives.

Smart Car Cargo Deck

Intelligent freight deck management: through optimised arrangement of vehicles, the available space is used to maximum effect, increasing efficiency per transported vehicle.