STX France delivers royal trio

Tidekongen, Tideprinzen and Tidedronningen, the three ferries built by STX Europe

shipyard in Lanester, France, for the Norwegian shipowner Tide Sj?, were recently christened in Oslo.

The three newbuildings are diesel/liquefied natural gas (LNG) electric powered ferries CODOGAEL (CO-generation Diesel Oil, Gas, Electric). They were built and delivered during June and July and all three vessels came into service in early August, connecting the Oslo business area to the residential neighbourhood of the Nesodden peninsula, with 33 crossings per day distributed between the three ferries.

Provided with LNG propulsion, the ferries will operate in the sheltered waters of the Nesodden peninsula and claim to be environmentally friendly by emitting 80% less nitrogen oxide (NOx) than a traditional diesel-powered vessel.

The simultaneous construction of these three ferries, within a very short timescale of eighteen months, represents a technical first as well as a real challenge, which the teams at Lanester shipyard have successfully achieved. The shipyard has thus confirmed its ability to innovate in the design of these ferries, by mastering integration of the machinery in a very confined space, and by coming up with technical solutions in order to adapt to the operational constraints of the vessels

(crossing time limited to 23 minutes; numerous rotations; turnaround time of 7 minutes only).

These coastal ferries were designed by Multi Maritime AS design office, Norway, to their design MM49 PE, and built at a cost of about 45 M?. With a length of 49.90 m, a breadth of 12.20 m, the ferries have a carrying capacity of 600 persons and bicycles.