Italian Yard Maintains Ro-Pax Momentum

The newbuild has been laid out for a maximum 930 passengers and the ro-ro intake equates to 2,560 linear metres on the trailer decks plus extra, dedicated deck space for 150 cars. The 28.2m beam is at the upper limit for the building dock at the riverside Porto Viro yard on the Po delta.

All ro-ro handling is across the stern ramp at main deck level, such that vehicles will have to turn within the ship on arrival. However, it is understood that the design has been conceived to facilitate future conversion to a drive-through configuration.

As one of the last remaining bastions of European ro-ro and ro-pax construction, privately-owned Visentini has maintained competitiveness by efficient production of a design type that has been continuously refined and adapted since the mid 1990s in conjunction with the originator, Trieste consultancy NAOS Ship and Boat Design.

Affording an incremental gain in hydrodynamic efficiency, A.Galeotta incorporates the FlexBow 2.0 design form, an improved version of the proprietary FlexBow introduced in 2004 to the NAOS/Visentini series. The latest ship also hosts the arrangements and systems central to meeting IMO Safe Return to Port (SRtP) requirements.

Driving twin controllable pitch propellers, the propulsion installation is based on two 12-cylinder, vee-form models of the Wartsila 50DF dual-fuel, medium-speed engine, each turning out 11,700kW. The power concentration of 23,400kW in combination with the nature of the hull lines and special bow promises a service speed of 23 knots, in keeping with the Visentini product’s well-proven capability to ensure fast transits in laden condition.

Two Type C LNG fuel tanks, each of 260m³ volume, are located on the vessel’s upper deck right aft, reducing ro-ro capacity somewhat compared with an all-diesel design.

Continuity of production at Porto Viro has been ensured through a recent deal with Polish Baltic Shipping Company (PZB) for a new ferry to be assigned to the route linking Swinoujscie with the southern Swedish port of Ystad.

As a lengthened, modified development of the design employed for the A.Galeotta, the 216m newbuild will be diesel-powered but LNG-ready. The capacity ratings of the Polish ship are higher at 3,000 lane-metres and 1,000 passengers. PZB has entered into a 10-year charter contract on the newbuild with the Italian owner, and anticipates delivery during the second half of 2024.