Croatia snaps up Yarmouth ferries

Wightlink has placed a contract for two new Yarmouth to Lymington ferries with a Croatian shipyard. The ferries, set to cost about $19 million, are due on the route before the summer season of 2008.

The new design came from a working party made up of staff from the route, managers and representatives from Hart Fenton Naval Architects. Staff open days were held in Lymington and Portsmouth where copies of the plans for the new ferries were displayed, together with models of the proposed new design and the existing ships.

Wightlink said the new vessels will be able to carry a greater and more varied traffic load within a footprint that is only marginally larger than the current vessels and with the same draft. Lymington Harbour Commissioners, who have resisted much bigger ferries on the route because of its environmentally sensitive nature, have agreed the new boats, which are 62.4 metres long and carry 360 passengers and 65 cars with a service speed of 10 to 12 knots. The capacity is up to 20 cars greater than the current maximum, through the introduction of a mezzanine deck.

The current ferries, Cenwulf, Cenred and Caedmon, are now 30 years old and Wightlink has said it has not yet been decided which one of the three will remain. The ferry company said tenders were sought throughout August from a number of British and European shipyards, which had the capacity to build the new ships and were able to offer delivery in the first half of 2008.

A Wightlink spokesman said: “Following visits to yards throughout September and, as a result of further technical discussions, it is expected an order will be placed with a Croatian yard. Further information on the specific yard will be released once letters of intent have been signed.”