Gotlandia delivered

Fincantieri?s Muggiano shipyard witnessed the christening of the fast ferry Gotlandia II, ordered in June 2004 by the Swedish owner Rederi A.B. Gotland for its ?Destination Gotland? subsidiary. The ship, which was built at Fincantieri?s Riva Trigoso shipyard and fitted out at Muggiano, was completed in just 14 months from keel laying to delivery.

The vessel, which was built and designed in accordance with IMO code HSC 2000 and is classed by Lloyd?s Register of Shipping, has a high-tensile steel hull and light alloy superstructure, is 122 metres long, 16.65 metres wide and is equipped with two bow thrusters, four diesel engines of 9,000 kW each and four steering- reversing water jets.

The newbuilding has a maximum speed of approximately 40 knots and a service speed of 36 knots. Maximum deadweight is 580 tonnes, with a capacity for 780 passengers in addition to over 160 cars or 8 buses. The ferry is scheduled to operate in the Baltic Sea and has been designed and built in accordance with the stringent requirements laid down by the Swedish Maritime Authority with regard to environmental impact. She is equipped with catalytic converters to reduce the level of pollutants emitted both at sea and when in port and with passive control systems of acoustic pollution which will enable noise levels to be substantially contained at all times.

The design and construction of the vessel has been developed from the experience of the “Destriero”, which, in 1992 won the “Blue Ribbon”, setting the record for the Atlantic crossing, without refuelling at an average speed of over 53 knots, with peak speeds of almost 70 knots. This new ferry will be the fifth of this type of vessel built by Fincantieri to take up service in the Baltic Sea.