Keel laying for P&O ferry

The keel of a ferry to be built for P&O Ferries was recently laid at STX Europe, Rauma in Finland, and is the first of the two ferries scheduled for delivery from Rauma shipyard in 2010 and 2011.

When completed, this vessel will be the largest ferry in the English Channel weighing in at 49,000 gt with a length of 212 m, passenger capacity of 1,750 and 3,746 lane metres of vehicle space.

There will be stowage for more than 180 freight vehicles and, additionally, up to 195 tourist vehicles.

The ferries will 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. The latest technologies of the industry will be applied both in design and construction of the vessel and special attention will be paid to safety aspects and environmental friendliness.