Mix and match for Corsica ferries

In an interesting approach to upgrading a flexible fleet while meeting diverse transport requirements, the French ferry company Société Nationale Maritime Corse Méditerranée (SNCM) is about to see its expansion plans come to fruition with the addition of a cruise ferry and a traditional passenger roro ferry.

The rationale behind these orders was to strengthen the position of the state-owned SNCM in its bid to win the five-year concession to operate a subsidised public passenger service between Marseilles and Corsica. This permit was accorded by the Corsican Assembly from January 1, 2002 and also includes the Compagnie Meridionale de Navigation (CMN). The battle for this route was strongly contested by the company?s private sector rival Corsica Ferries.

As part of the deal, SNCM announced proposals to lay off 300 out of 2,500 staff in line with its restructuring plan to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The amount of subsidies both operators will receive will total a maximum of 8455.05 million ($429.2 million). The deal requires a regular daily service between France and Corsica to be operated by four passenger vehicle vessels and two large capacity car ferries.

Pascal Paoli

The contract for the 35,800g traditional ropax ferry was placed with the Dutch shipbuilder van der Giessen-de Noord. The vessel, to be named

Pascal Paoli

after an 18th century Corsican leader, will be launched in September. Delivery is planned for January 2003. Steel cutting started in October 2001 and the keel laying took place in January this year.

Main characteristics

The ferry has an overall length of 175m and a beam of 30.5m. It will have a fully loaded deadweight of just over 9,300 tonnes. Propulsion power will be achieved by means of four Wärtsilä 46 series main engines with a total output of 37,800kW. These will drive two Lips CP propellers. The ship has a designed service speed of 23 knots at 80% MCR. A pair of flap type spade rudders and two 1,500kW CPP bow thrusters will aid manoeuvrability. Passenger comfort will be enhanced by the installation of fin stabilisers designed to reduce roll by 90% at 20 knots and a wave slope of 4 deg.

The newbuilding will have a carrying capacity for 594 passengers and 130 cars in addition to 2,305 lane metres for roro freight. Although equipped as a conventional ferry, the vessel will have cabin space for 544 persons comprising 112 four-berth cabins, 46 two-berth and two four-berth for disabled persons, all with their own private facilities. Public spaces and outside deck area cater for a total of 550 passengers and include a reclining seat area (50 seats) and gaming zone on deck 8 while deck 7 contains two restaurants, one of which is for trailer drivers, a bar lounge, a kiosk, and a children?s playroom.

Life saving equipment consists of two 100 person lifeboats located on deck 7 and 17 inflatable life rafts each capable of carrying 39 persons. In addition there is a fast rescue boat and a MOB boat.

Ro-Ro Equipment

The contract for the design, supply and installation of roro cargo handling equipment was awarded to Hamworthy KSE (HKSE) and features a comprehensive range of access equipment. This includes twin stern ramps/doors, internal ramp cover, bulkhead doors, side shell doors and hatch covers.

Designed for SNCM?s service between Marseille/Toulon on France?s Mediterranean coast and the Corsican port of Bastia, the vessel will be equipped for stern loading and discharge only. Wheeled vehicles will access the vessel via two stern ramps onto the main vehicle deck (deck 3), from there two fixed ramps will lead up to the upper decks (deck 5 and 7), while a further fixed ramp will lead down to the lower vehicle deck (deck 1).

The two stern ramp/doors each have a length of 18.5m and a clear height of 5m, with the starboard door having a driveway width of 6.4m, while the port ramp has a driveway width of 12m. Both ramps are rated for 40t road trailers as well as 60t, 40ft Mafi trailers. The same loadings also apply to the 41m long, 4.2m wide ramp in deck 3.

The contract also calls for the design and delivery of two hydraulically operated bulkhead doors. One 4.2m x 5m door of the vertical sliding type will be situated in the starboard side trailer ramp between deck 3 and 5, while a second door, 24m wide and 5m high, will be located at frame 26, closing the aft end of the ship between deck 5 and 6. This door will be of the top-hinged type.

At the same time two 2m x 2m weather-tight pilot/passenger doors of the vertical sliding type will be fitted to port and starboard side at deck 3 level. In addition, a special 1.1m x 0.65m side-hinged door will be installed on the starboard side, aft on deck 3 for passenger access at the Corsican port of Bastia. Deck 3 will also feature three 2m x 2m hatch covers, one providing access to the vessel?s workshop and stores, while the other two provide access to the vessel?s main engine-room. A gas tight door is provided on deck 5 aft to separate dangerous cargo.

Ventilation of roro spaces is by electrical driven fans with sufficient capacity to comply with the requirements during loading/ unloading and transportation of vehicles. The air conditioning plant is designed to control the climate in the accommodation during all seasons for the operational area of the vessel.

Danielle Casanova

The contract for the second SNCM ferry was placed with Fincantieri and consisted of a 44,500g cruise ferry to operate in tandem with Paoli Pascal on the Marseille run to Corsica and on to North Africa (Tunisia and Algeria) during the tourist season. The design brief, however, specified that this 44,500g vessel should also have the capability to operate as a cruise ship and carry out mini cruises outside the tourist season.

Delivered towards the end of last month (June 2002) from the Italian shipbuilder?s yard at Ancone, the

Danielle Casanova

measures 175m long and 30.4m wide. It has a total capacity of 2,400 passengers and a crew of 174. Some 1,880 passengers can be accommodated in 470 cabins of which 10 are deluxe suites. A further 320 passengers will have access to pullman seats and the remaining 200 will be deck passengers. Public spaces are provided for the full complement of passengers and include three restaurants, lounges, shops, cinema conference centre, children?s play room, two bars, a discotheque and a swimming pool.

In its ferry guise, the vessel has 1,000 lane metres for mafi trailers carrying 20 and 40 foot containers, lorries, road trailers. In addition, it can load up to 700 cars giving it a total deadweight of 3,400t. Cargo handling gear comprises two stern ramps and one bow ramp giving access to deck 3 while access to deck 4 is by means of four mobile ramps, 2 aft and 2 forward. Ventilation for the cargo decks is up to 30 changes hourly. Four Wärtsilä medium speed 4-stroke 9 cylinder diesel engines generate a total output of 37,800kW and each pair is connected through a single reduction gear to a CP propeller giving a service speed of 24 knots at 80% MCR.

The ship has the usual bulbous bow and transom stern configuration and has watertight subdivisions giving sufficient buoyancy to remain afloat with up to two compartments flooded.