What the Baltic’s LNG ferry proves

MyStar has just arrived in Helsinki—and already, the countdown has begun. 

Trucks queue up at West Terminal 2, cars follow, and passengers head for the ship’s restaurants and shops. In less than an hour, the 212-meter-long Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger (Ro-Pax) ferry will depart again, heading back across one of the world’s busiest short-sea corridors. This tightly choreographed rhythm repeats six times a day, 365 days a year.

If MyStar is late, two cities feel it. The ferry links Helsinki and Tallinn—twin capitals just 80 kilometers apart but deeply interwoven economically. Commuters, cargo operators, and logistics planners rely on departures and arrivals that leave little room for error.

“Passengers and cargo count on us to be on time,” says Jegor Kulešov, Technical Superintendent of MyStar, operated by Tallink, the Estonian shipping company. “On these tight schedules, and in the often windy and wavy conditions of the Baltic, our shuttle vessels operate on LNG (liquefied natural gas), smoothly and safely.”

Business as usual in gas mode

Built in Finland and commissioned in 2022, MyStar is Tallink’s most advanced vessel, with the capacity to carry 2,800 passengers and 750 vehicles. It is powered by five Everllence 8L 51/60DF dual-fuel engines—large four-stroke units designed to run reliably on LNG while handling the rapid load changes of high-frequency ferry operations.

In the control room, Chief Engineer Andres Lepik and his team monitor the vessel’s operation on large screens. “This route in the Baltic is quite complicated,” Lepik explains. “Unlike a cargo ship that runs one long leg, we have to perform maneuvers every two hours.”

Rapid acceleration, mid-sea cruising, and precise port maneuvering are part of the routine. “These are situations where you really have to trust the engines,” Lepik says. “But for us, this is business as usual—even in gas mode. We start the engines in gas mode, and they stay there. We’ve had almost no gas trips on these engines.”

Redundancy in LNG ferry operations

Two heavy doors and one floor down, the quiet atmosphere of the control room gives way to the rhythmic, steady hum of the engine room—the vessel’s heartbeat. Each as tall as a two-story house, the five main dual-fuel engines sit in two compartments, separated by watertight bulkheads. Yellow, double-walled LNG pipes run alongside.

Under normal conditions, just three of the five engines power the electric motors that drive the propeller shafts. When weather or operating conditions demand more power—or if one unit is taken offline—additional engines can be brought in without interrupting the service.

Servicing LNG ferries without downtime

The redundancy built into the propulsion system also allows for servicing while the ship is on its regular route, says Joska Taipale, Everllence’s Branch Manager for Finland and the Baltics. “MyStar doesn’t have the luxury of standing at port for service. Having one engine on standby enables us to work on it during normal cruise operation.”

Thanks to a long-term service agreement with Tallink, maintenance can be planned years in advance, says Taipale, allowing spare parts and service work to be scheduled early. MyStar is also connected to Everllence’s remote monitoring systems, enabling engineers to track engine performance and gather data continuously. Should an issue arise, the crew can be contacted promptly.

A path to net-zero operations

From the bridge, the view now extends toward Tallinn. Terminal D frames the scene between the modern skyline and the Old Town. The captain maneuvers the ship toward the quay with pinpoint precision, as if handling a compact car. The automated mooring system, using vacuum docking, makes the landing even smoother. Within minutes, cars roll out and delivery vehicles enter. An hour later, MyStar departs again for Helsinki—right on schedule.

For Thomas Huchatz, Global Manager Ferries at Everllence, reliability is the foundation for decarbonization. “The 51/60DF four-stroke dual-fuel engines are a proven technology, with millions of operating hours in the field.” He adds that the Baltic Sea region has long been at the forefront of innovation in ferry operations. “Many operators around the world look at what’s being developed here and recognize it as a blueprint for future vessels.”

In that sense, MyStar itself serves as the blueprint. Running on LNG reduces CO₂ emissions by around 20–25 percent compared to heavy fuel oil (HFO), while virtually eliminating sulfur emissions and particulate matter—a benefit to both the climate and port city residents, notes Jegor Kulešov.

Huchatz also points out that MyStar’s electric propulsion system keeps future options for alternative fuels open. “It operates on LNG, and from there we see several paths toward a near-zero-carbon future—through liquefied biogas (LBG) today and, in the long term, synthetic gases.”

“We’re already testing the use of LBG from waste with good results,” says Kulešov. “Tallink’s goal is to operate our LNG vessels on 100 percent biogas by spring 2026. This is how we’ll fulfill EU requirements across the fleet.”

Proven LNG technology in everyday ferry service

As dusk settles in, MyStar docks once more in Helsinki. The ferry’s green and gold colors reflect off the terminal’s glass façade beneath its gently curved roof. Passengers with shopping bags and winter coats stream ashore, trucks roll on—and before long, the vessel prepares to depart again, quietly and on schedule.

MyStar marks a turning point for LNG ferry operations, says Huchatz. “This is already the second generation of LNG-fueled ferries. With vessels like this, it has been proven that LNG-fueled ferries are a viable technology. They can operate competitively, and they’ll be looked at around the world as a reference for future designs.”

Beyond the technology, Huchatz also sees something more fundamental at work. “I always like to think of ferries as connections between cities,” he says. “In this case, even between two countries. Seeing passengers board, excited to travel, to explore—it’s a great story, and a great feeling to be part of such an operation.”

For MyStar, decarbonization has become a daily routine that offers ferry customers what they expect: reliable service and environmental responsibility.

About the author

Niels Anner is an independent journalist based in Copenhagen. He writes about science, health, technology, business and society in Northern Europe.