Third Irish Sea ro-ro launched by FSG

FSG managing director Peter Sierk says: “This ship represents a super performance by Flensburger shipbuilders in launching her, right on schedule.” Praising the team that built her, Sierk told the launching ceremony in the yard’s shipbuilding hall: “We have met every deadline to date and we have the high commitment and motivation of all our 700 employees to thank for that. Performance here means, literally, success, achievement and the fulfillment of high expectations. It is that which successfully distinguishes us from other shipyards because we are not just a building facility but also one which sets great store by research and development. Only by doing this can we be in a position to fulfill our customers’ individual requirements and develop the best solutions for their business needs.”

The first of the newbuildings, Seatruck Progress, is now operating on the Liverpool-Dublin route. The second in the series, Seatruck Power, will join this route in mid February. The third vessel, Seatruck Performance, will begin operations in the Irish Sea in April. The fourth new ferry will be launched at FSG at the end of March and enter service in June.

All four ships will operate mainly in the Irish Sea. They are 142m long and 25m wide, boast a freight-carrying capacity of 2,166 lane-metres on four decks and can carry up to 155 trailers. The FSG ships are the most efficient and modern in the Seatruck fleet, and will be the biggest to operate out of the port of Heysham, the length being determined by the size of this port.

FSG engineers designed the ships for eco-friendliness and low fuel consumption. Compared to conventional ships, they are said to consume up to 30% less fuel, saving costs and representing a significant contribution to environmental protection.

Unlike some other German yards, Flensburg is enjoying a busy time. Thanks to a recent contract with a Canadian shipping company, orders now in hand provide work up to the end of 2013. As well as the ferries for Seatruck, three further ro-ro freight ferries will be built at FSG for Turkey’s Ulusoy Sealines, along with the eco-friendly conro ship for the customer in Canada. Further projects, designed to secure more than 700 jobs at the yard are reportedly in the planning stage.