After a letter of intent in June, Aker Yards and P&O Ferries have now signed the contract for building two large car-passenger ferries for the Dover-Calais service.
The total contract price for both vessels is approximately EUR 360 million. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011 respectively. They will be built at Aker Yards, Rauma, creating some 1800 manyears of work. The contract includes options on a further two vessels of the same design.
Becoming the largest ferry in the English Channel means a 49,000 GT vessel with the length of 210 metres and having 2,700 lane metres of vehicle space. There is space for more than 180 freight vehicles and additionally for up to 195 tourist vehicles. The vessels are capable of carrying up to 2000 passengers.
Environmentally Friendly
The ferries will be as environmentally friendly as possible, offering significant advances in fuel efficiency through a hydro-dynamically efficient hull form that will optimise vessel performance with minimum fuel consumption.
“The common requirement for Aker Yards’ newbuildings is both environmental and energy efficiency,” says Juha Heikinheimo, President of Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries. “These new large ferries represent both, incorporating the latest environmental tehcnology.”
Aker Yards Cruise & Ferries, consisting of three yards in Finland and two in France, currently has an orderbook of fifteen vessels.
