There is an increasing demand for large roll-on/roll-off cargo ferries as well as car/passenger jumbo-ferries between continental Europe and the British Islands. It is a question of the sailing distance/time and the neighbourhood of the Tunnel under the British Channel how effective these routes are. Most of the ferry lines in the close neighbourhood of the Tunnel had to close down traffic due to the competition and the effectiveness of the Tunnel. But as further you are away from the Tunnel as easier ferry lines could continue their services. All passenger traffic sailing longer than six hours remained in the market and rolling cargo transport returned to the corresponding area sailing longer than three hours. P&O North Sea Ferries received their last generation of newbuildings (car/passenger ferries 'Norsun' and 'Norsea', 31598 GT each) and lengthened the existing ferries ('Norland' and 'Norstar' 26916 GT) in 1987. Early in 1999 P&O North Sea Ferries placed a contract to build two new jumbo-ferries (60600 GT, 1360 passengers in 546 cabins, 250 cars and 3400 m truck lanes) with Italian Fincantieri Group. These newbuildings are announced to be the largest ferries of the world after their delivery in April/December 2001. Besides these car/passenger ferries for North Sea Ferries service P&O ordered one ro-pax ferry (19000 GT, 410 pass., 1750 m truck lanes, 375 cars or 107 freight units) with options for further three ships to be delivered after June 2000 with a Japanese shipyard. In the meantime P&O North Sea Ferries chartered the just finished cargo ferry 'Norsky'. She is the newbuilding no. 424 of Aker Finnyards, Rauma, Finland. The vessel, delivered from the yard to the owners on 29th June 1999, started regular service between continental Europe and the UK, on the route Zeebrugge - Teesport under the operation of British P&O North Sea Ferries. The vessel is designed mainly for transporting trailers, trucks and containers. Beginning of July 1999, Aker Finnyards and Irish Ferries, signed a contract for building the world's largest vehicle carrying cruise ferry. The vessel is scheduled to have a capacity of 1800 passengers and impressive huge 4,000 m lanes for all kind of vehicles. The vessel, at a cost of EUR 100 million, is designed to operate on short sea international routes. It will carry passengers, private cars, semi-trailers, articulated vehicles and other wheeled cargo.
New ferries in British waters
Neue Fähren in britischen Gewässern
HANSA. International Maritime Journal ; 136 , 11 ; 55-56
1999
2 Seiten, 2 Bilder, 2 Tabellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
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