Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, England, is currently building a double ended ferry that will replace the »Strangford« after 45[ds_preview] years of service on the route Strangford–Portaferry (County Down, Northern Ireland). The Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development ordered the new ship. The old vessel already featured a Voith Schneider propulsion solution, as will the new one. The two 16R5 EC/120-1 Voith Schneider Propellers are arranged along the centerline of the vessel and are both protected by skegs. Voith Schneider also supplies the electronic control system, turbo couplings and bow tooth couplings.
With a length of 38.20m and a beam of 15.50m, the new ferry will carry 260 passengers and 28 cars, alternatively 22 cars and two buses or 20 cars and two trucks. The ship will be equipped with two 540kW diesel engines, maximum speed will be 12kn, while service speed will be10.75kn. The design oft he vessel has already been tested and is mostly derived from Sistership »Portaferry II«, Voith stated.
