Rauma Marine Constructions has started the construction of the first of two ropax ferries ordered by the Australian company Spirit of Tasmania.
The vessels will operate an extremely challenging open sea route between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
The start of construction was celebrated in Rauma on February, 28, in a traditional steel cutting ceremony.
The route the vessels are set to operate will be the world’s southernmost ferry route powered by LNG.
Damen Shipyards has been contracted by Penang Port Sdn Bhd., Malaysia, to build up to five RoPax ferries to replace the current fleet that has reached its end of life.
They will operate on the ferry route that links the Malaysian Peninsula (Butterworth) with Penang Island and its city of George Town, Malaysia’s third largest, just a 10-minute journey away.
Designated the Damen Ferry 3508, the new class is designed to carry a maximum of 250 passengers both sitting and standing and 50 vehicles (scooters and motor bikes) in a mix of air-conditioned and open but sheltered areas.
New Zealand State-owned KiwiRail is taking the next step to procure a new generation of Cook Strait ferries.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) to find a preferred shipyard to build two new ships for the Interislander is being issued today, the next step in the procurement process.
The NZD 400 million contribution in Budget 2020 has enabled KiwiRail to go out to international tender to build the new ships, which are intended to arrive for service in 2024 and 2025. When the ferries are delivered, it will be over 25 years since New Zealand last introduced a brand-new purpose-built ferry to its fleet.
KiwiRail’s iReX Project was established to replace the existing three ship fleet with two new, large, rail-capable ships to be brought into service during 2024 and 2025.
KiwiRail has engaged OSK ShipTech to design the ferries.
The two ferries will be able to carry twice as many passengers as the current three ship fleet, 300% more rail wagons and almost double the number of trucks and other vehicles.
The new ships will be much more fuel efficient and produce significantly lower CO2 emissions. They will be able to run on battery power at times. KiwiRail is also future proofing the design so new fuel sources can be adopted as they become available.
The RFP process to identify the successful shipyard is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited, whose Clyde shipyard came under Scottish Government ownership last year, has awarded ICE Marine Design a contract to correct and complete the design of its Hull No 801, the dual-fuel RoPax ferry GLEN SANNOX for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. (CMAL)
Following a detailed investigation of status of the partly-constructed vessel – including performing a laser scanning survey of technical spaces – ICE, in close cooperation with Ferguson’s new management team, carefully mapped out the design work and deliverables to be revised, updated and completed.
On 2 April 2020, CMAL has awarded a contract to KC LNG, Kosan Crisplant’s division under MAKEEN Energy, to design and install Scotland’s first LNG bunkering facilities at Uig and Ardrossan. When completed, the facilities will provide a source of LNG fuelling for the two dual fuel ferries, GLEN SANNOX and Hull 802.
Knud E. Hansen presented a new 212m ropax ferry that can transport up to 700 passengers and 390 cars. The vessel also boasts 2955 lane metres for trucks and trailers. The layout and access arrangements makes it an ideal choice for the Mediterranean market although it is also well suited for a variety of locations and operating conditions worldwide.
Although some of the renderings show the coast of Calais and the Port of Dover, the ropax ferries under construction at the Guangzhou Shipyard International, will be deployed in the first and second half of 2021 in the Baltic region. (plans can always change of course).
Christian Simon Nielsen, Project Manager, has kindly shared some great 3D renderings of the design on the DFDS newsroom.
With their capacity for 4,500 lane metres of freight and 600 passengers, the newbuilds are designed to accommodate future growth. The keel-laying ceremony which will take place in January 2020.
Ferry Shipping News understands there is an option for a further two units.
