STX Europe makes start on P&O ferry

The production of the first of the two huge ferries ordered by P& O Ferries started today by cutting its first steel plate on STX Europe’s yard in Rauma, Finland.

The 49,000 gt roro-passenger ferries with a length of 210 metres and 2,700 lane metres, are scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011 and will enter the Dover-Calais service. Passenger capacity is 1,750 while there will be space for more than 180 freight vehicles and up to 195 cars.

The vessels will be the first passenger ferries in the world to comply with the new IMO’s “Safe Return to Port” requirements ahead of the international compliance date.

These rules require that, in the event of a ship becoming a casualty, basic services are provided to all persons on board and that certain systems remain operational for safe return to port. Performance standards are stipulated for a wide range of ship systems including fire-fighting, power supply, propulsion, steering and navigation. The requirements come into force for vessels built after 1 July 2010.

The ships will have the Lloyd’s Register class notation of PSMR (Propulsion and Steering Machinery Redundancy) which will be assigned where the main propulsion and steering systems are configured to ensure that, in the event of equipment failure, the ship retains availability of propulsion power and manoeuvring capability to provide a safe return to port.

The ferries will also 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.