Clipper Point joins Seatruck fleet

Seatruck Ferries, part of the Danish Clipper Group, has received delivery of the first of four newbuildings ordered from the Spanish shipbuilder Astilleros de Huelva. Named Clipper Point, she will be followed by a further three vessels in this 120 unit class of freight ro-ros during the course of this year.

With a service speed of 22 knots and capacity for 120 unaccompanied units, Clipper Point will be joined by another newbuilding, the Clipper Pace on the Warrenpoint-Heysham service across the Irish Sea. Two more newbuildings, Clipper Pennant and Clipper Panorama, will be deployed on the Dublin-Liverpool route. Seatruck acquired this route last September from the former operator, Celtic Link.

The commissioning and entry into service of Clipper Point follows Seatruck?s announcement in early March of an order for a further four new freight ferries. This order was placed with the German shipbuilder FSG (Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft) and these newbuildings will join the rapidly expanding Seatruck fleet in the November 2011-June 2012 period.

Kevin Hobbs, CEO of Seatruck, says: “We are making good progress in developing a young, flexible fleet offering new standards of service and greater capacity on the busy Irish Sea routes. Demand on both routes is strong and we are well-placed to meet our clients? requirements for fast, efficient service.”