European Ferry Commentary

摘要

Dutch builder Van der Giessen-de Noord has secured a FFr.800 million (£70m) contract to construct a 2,200-passenger vessel to enter service on Brittany Ferries Portsmouth/-Caen/Ouistreham route in May 2002. It will be able to carry up to 130 lorries or 800 cars on 2,250 lane metres and has been ordered jointly by Brittany Ferries and its ship owning partner Senecal. At 173.4 metres in length and with a breadth of 28.5 metres, the 21-knot ship will bring a 20 per cent increase in passenger capacity and 70 per cent freight boost to the route. It is to join the 1992-built Normandie and replace Due de Normandie (1978) which moves west to take over the Plymouth-Roscoff service from the Quiberon (1975).