Following the introduction of Stena Line’s two new »Superferries« (62,000 GT; 5,500 m truck-lanes each) to the route between[ds_preview] Dutch Hoek van Holland and British Harwich (6.5 hours sailing time) P&O Ferries launched the first of two large day-car-/passenger-ferries (49,000 GT; 3,746 m truck-lanes each) crossing the English Channel in only 75 minutes. Although these ferries are quite different, as the Stena pair is of the night-ferry type, whereas the P&O-duo is a pure day-ferry version, anyhow, both couples are mainly rolling-freight-carrying units.
On 8th of June 2010, the launching or better floating-out of the building dock took place for hull-number 1367, the car-/passenger-ferry »Spirit of Britain«, built for P&O Ferries by STX Europe’s Finnish Rauma-shipyard. Construction activities on this newly launched ship started in autumn last year and will continue at high speed. Test-runs are expected to take place this August and first ship sea trials are going to happen mid October. Delivery is planned before the change of the years.
When this vessel is completed, »Spirit of Britain« will be the biggest ferry operating on the English Channel between British Dover and French Calais. The 49,000 GT measuring vessel is about 213 m long and has a freight-carrying capacity of 3,746 m lanes for trailers, cars, coaches and other rolling cargo. In addition to space for approx. 180 freight trucks or trailers and 195 passenger cars, the ferry can accommodate 1,750 passengers for the 75 minutes lasting Channel-crossing.
The most innovative and advanced technology is being utilised in the design and construction of the two vessels. Special attention is paid to environment-friendly solutions and safety. For the time being there are not too many technical details known, therefore the ferries will be described in HANSA later the year, when »Spirit of Britain« is delivered and in her daily operation.
At the same time as the swimming-up of »Spirit of Britain« happened, preparation for the keel-laying of hull-number 1368 began by carrying out the traditional »lucky coins« ceremony. The procedure was conducted by lowering the vessel’s first construction block on to the top of the keel-block which has the »lucky coins« on its top. This ceremony is believed to bring fortune to the ship and its owner, but it also symbolises the working co-operation between the customer and the shipyard. Representatives of P&O Ferries, the classification society Lloyd’s Register, flag-authority Maritime & Coastguard Agency and STX Europe as well as a number of shipyard and shipping company guests were on the site to witness the event.
These two new ferries are going to replace the more than 20 year old ferries »Pride of Calais/Dover« (each 26,433 GT; 1,545 m truck-lanes; 2,290 pass.), which were built by German Schichau-Seebeck-Werft (SSW) in 1987. SSW became the building-yard for most of the P&O-ferries. Today, P&O Ferries is the leading ferry operator with a network of 10 routes linking Great Britain with Ireland, France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. The company operates a fleet of 27 ferries and employs around 4,500 people. It is part of Ports & Freezone World, a company ultimately owned by the Government of Dubai. STX/KN
