PRINTFINCANTIERI TO BUILD TWO MORE FERRIES FOR FINNLINES
09 December 2004
The Finnish shipping group, Finnlines, has ordered a further two “ro-pax” ferries from Fincantieri by taking up the option foreseen within the contract for three sister ships signed last February. This brings the total number of ships ordered to five for an overall value of 500 million Euro.
The first vessel will be delivered at the end of 2005, the second and the third in mid 2006, the fourth in autumn 2006 and the fifth in early 2007.
A leading European shipping company, Finnlines works mainly in North Europe and the Baltic Sea; as well as its traditional shipping activities (carried out by its fleet of 70 ships), the company also works in the field of port services (management of terminals, cargo handling etc.).
The innovative project, from Fincantieri’s Merchant Ship Business Unit, will afford operational flexibility and high technical reliability, thus making it possible to fully exploit the loading volume of these ferries which will be able to carry up to 500 passengers and 300 trucks in 4,200 linear metres: record figures for ships of this type, to date the largest and fastest ro-pax vessels built in the world.
The main features of the ships are: 42,000 gross tonnes, a deadweight of 9,300 tons, maximum length 216 metres, beam 30.5 metres, height to the upper deck 16 metres and a draught of approximately 7 metres, with 225 deluxe cabins. The ships will be equipped with four Wartsila 9L46D engines, capable of providing a total power of 48,000 kW and a service speed of 25 knots.
“We are most pleased – said Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri – that such a highly prestigious, leading player as Finnlines has once more expressed full confidence in our capability to build high quality ships.” “The order is further proof that the Italian shipbuilding industry is competitive also in the difficult market of merchant vessels, where competition is especially intense and, moreover, further strengthens our position as world leader in the market for large ferries where we have a share of approximately 40% “
“Once again – Bono went on - the quality of our offer and design, our guarantee that delivery schedules will be respected and our sound financial status have been key factors when the ship owner came to make his choice ".
The first vessel will be delivered at the end of 2005, the second and the third in mid 2006, the fourth in autumn 2006 and the fifth in early 2007.
A leading European shipping company, Finnlines works mainly in North Europe and the Baltic Sea; as well as its traditional shipping activities (carried out by its fleet of 70 ships), the company also works in the field of port services (management of terminals, cargo handling etc.).
The innovative project, from Fincantieri’s Merchant Ship Business Unit, will afford operational flexibility and high technical reliability, thus making it possible to fully exploit the loading volume of these ferries which will be able to carry up to 500 passengers and 300 trucks in 4,200 linear metres: record figures for ships of this type, to date the largest and fastest ro-pax vessels built in the world.
The main features of the ships are: 42,000 gross tonnes, a deadweight of 9,300 tons, maximum length 216 metres, beam 30.5 metres, height to the upper deck 16 metres and a draught of approximately 7 metres, with 225 deluxe cabins. The ships will be equipped with four Wartsila 9L46D engines, capable of providing a total power of 48,000 kW and a service speed of 25 knots.
“We are most pleased – said Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri – that such a highly prestigious, leading player as Finnlines has once more expressed full confidence in our capability to build high quality ships.” “The order is further proof that the Italian shipbuilding industry is competitive also in the difficult market of merchant vessels, where competition is especially intense and, moreover, further strengthens our position as world leader in the market for large ferries where we have a share of approximately 40% “
“Once again – Bono went on - the quality of our offer and design, our guarantee that delivery schedules will be respected and our sound financial status have been key factors when the ship owner came to make his choice ".