Ship simulator model of Wasaline’s Aurora Botnia completed

Work on developing an advanced ship simulator model of Wasaline’s vessel Aurora Botnia began in autumn 2024 through close cooperation between Aboa Mare and Wasaline. The purpose of the project has been to jointly create a realistic simulator model that the parties can use for training and educational purposes.

On Tuesday, 18 November, Senior Captain Johannes Sjöholm visited Aboa Mare in Turku to carry out an extensive test of the simulator environment. During the testing, he verified that the simulator model accurately replicates Aurora Botnia’s real-world characteristics and manoeuvring behaviour.

The project marks an important step in the development of modern training tools for the maritime sector and strengthens the collaboration between the two organisations.

“The simulator meets our needs very well when we are going to have simulator exercises.”, says Johannes Sjöholm, Senior Captain, at Wasaline.

The Aurora Botnia ship simulator model is equipped with technical functions corresponding to the different operation modes used onboard. These include operating in pure diesel or gas mode, running on batteries with no engines, or in hybrid mode with both engines and batteries.

“This enables us to train different ways of using the propulsion system to achieve the lowest fuel consumption and minimize emissions to both air and sea.”, says Magnus Winberg, Senior lecturer at Aboa Mare.

Aboa Mare, Senior Lecturer, Magnus Winberg, tel. +358 44 762 3414, magnus.winberg@novia.fi

Wasaline, Director, Brand, Communications & Sustainability, Catarina Fant, tel. +358 46 921 5811, catarina.fant@wasaline.com

Aboa Mare is a leading maritime education and training center based in Turku, Finland. Aboa Mare offers degree programs and continuing education for maritime professionals, with strong expertise in IGF and Polar Code courses, BRM & ERM simulation, and sustainability. Students and course participants can undertake practical exercises using advanced maritime simulators, designed to replicate actual ship bridges and engine rooms. The maritime training can be customized with tailor-made ship models and sailing areas to meet specific training needs. Aboa Mare also use its maritime expertise and simulation know-how for providing high quality R&D projects. Vocational education is provided through Axxell and university-level education through Novia UAS. For more information, please visit https://aboamare.fi/

Wasaline operates the daily ferry service between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden. The crossing is the northernmost year-round international ferry route in the world, serving both passengers and freight. Wasaline is the first shipping company in the Baltic Sea to offer carbon-neutral transportation. Its hybrid ferry Aurora Botnia is powered by biogas and batteries. Both the ferry and Wasaline’s services have been awarded the Key Flag as a symbol of Finnish work. For more information, please visit https://www.wasaline.com/en/