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HIGH-TECH FERRY LAUNCHED IN CASTELLAMMARE FOR QUÉBEC GOVERNMENT CORPORATION
28 giu 2014
28 giu 2014
"F.A.-Gauthier" is the first ever gas-powered ferry built in Italy
Today the Fincantieri shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) saw the launching of the "F.-A.-Gauthier", the latest generation ferry that Fincantieri is building for Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ), a Québec Government Corporation that operates in maritime passenger transport. Fincantieri won the order in July 2012, beating the very top international competitors.
The ship's name, “F.-A.-Gauthier”, is in honour of Félix-Adrien Gauthier, mayor of the town of Matane (1960-1963) and founder of the Matane–Godbout ferry route.
Attending the ceremony for the shipowner were the STQ’s employees designated to represent the Owner at the yard during the construction, while Fincantieri was represented, among others, by Gabriele Cocco, Executive Senior Vice President Merchant Vessels, and Gilberto Tobaldi, the Castellammare yard manager .
"F.-A.-Gauthier", scheduled for delivery in late 2014 in Canada, represents a genuine technological revolution. It will be the first ever gas-powered ferry built in Italy and the first such vessel to operate in North America.
A genuine concentration of technology, it adopts the most advanced solutions in terms of energy saving and low environmental impact, enabling a major reduction in emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides) and SOx (sulphur oxides, which will actually be reduced to zero). In fact, this ship is equipped with a unique integrated diesel electric propulsion system, like on modern cruise ships, but the four diesel power generators are dual fuel and can run on either gas (Liquid Natural Gas - LNG) or marine diesel oil. This propulsion system fully meets the ecological requirements of the ECA areas (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Caribbean, North America). These standards will soon be introduced in the Mediterranean.
The ship is certified in the highest class designated by international registries for this type of service and is also in ice class 1 A and propulsion class 1 AS, the highest levels awarded by these classification registries, allowing it to operate in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known for its adverse weather conditions. "F.-A.-Gauthier" is also able to break sea ice, thanks to its innovative bow and stern, designed and patented by Fincantieri.
The ferry’s two electric propulsion engines operate azimuth thrusters, each equipped with two Countrar-Rotating propellers, which together with transverse propellers, make the ferry exceptionally manoeuvrable. These characteristics, combined with a complex and extensive system of ramps and doors at both bow and stern, will allow the vessel to load and unload very quickly.
At 133 metres long and 22 metres wide, "F.-A.-Gauthier" will have a service speed of 20 knots and will be able to carry more than 800 passengers. The ferry will be used in the Province of Québec for multiple services on the Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout route, which, with 1,600 sailings a year, provides transport for more than 205,000 passengers and over 118,000 vehicles.
Trieste, 28 June 2014
A Québec Government Corporation, Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) operates directly or in partnership eleven ferries and two maritime services along the St. Lawrence River with its fleet of 17 ships. In the course of a single year, its 600 employees make about 115,000 crossings with 15 of these vessels, carrying over 5.4 million passengers and 2.3 million vehicles. STQ ferry crossings are important contributors to social, economic, and tourism development in the areas they serve. As Québec's leading ferry services provider, STQ enjoys a reputation for reliability and superior service dating back more than 43 years.
Fincantieri is one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups, which in over 200 years of maritime history has built more than 7.000 vessels. It is world leader in cruise ship construction and a reference player in other sectors, from naval vessels to cruise ferries, from mega-yachts to special high value-added vessels, ship repairs and conversions and offshore vessels. Headquartered in Trieste, the Group has more than 20,000 employees, of whom 7,700 in Italy, and 21 shipyards in 4 continents. During 2013 the Group acquired VARD, a company that builds offshore support vessels for oil & gas exploration and production and is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Fincantieri has thus doubled in size, becoming the western world's largest shipbuilder and world number one by diversification and presence in every high value-added market sector. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG). This company, which serves important government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Marinette Marine, Bay Shipbuilding, Ace Marine), all located in the Great Lakes region. Fincantieri is present in the UAE with Etihad Ship Building, a joint venture set up with Melara Middle East and Al Fattan Ship Industries, to design, produce and sell different types of civilian and military ships as well as perform maintenance and refitting activities.
Today the Fincantieri shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) saw the launching of the "F.-A.-Gauthier", the latest generation ferry that Fincantieri is building for Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ), a Québec Government Corporation that operates in maritime passenger transport. Fincantieri won the order in July 2012, beating the very top international competitors.
The ship's name, “F.-A.-Gauthier”, is in honour of Félix-Adrien Gauthier, mayor of the town of Matane (1960-1963) and founder of the Matane–Godbout ferry route.
Attending the ceremony for the shipowner were the STQ’s employees designated to represent the Owner at the yard during the construction, while Fincantieri was represented, among others, by Gabriele Cocco, Executive Senior Vice President Merchant Vessels, and Gilberto Tobaldi, the Castellammare yard manager .
"F.-A.-Gauthier", scheduled for delivery in late 2014 in Canada, represents a genuine technological revolution. It will be the first ever gas-powered ferry built in Italy and the first such vessel to operate in North America.
A genuine concentration of technology, it adopts the most advanced solutions in terms of energy saving and low environmental impact, enabling a major reduction in emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides) and SOx (sulphur oxides, which will actually be reduced to zero). In fact, this ship is equipped with a unique integrated diesel electric propulsion system, like on modern cruise ships, but the four diesel power generators are dual fuel and can run on either gas (Liquid Natural Gas - LNG) or marine diesel oil. This propulsion system fully meets the ecological requirements of the ECA areas (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Caribbean, North America). These standards will soon be introduced in the Mediterranean.
The ship is certified in the highest class designated by international registries for this type of service and is also in ice class 1 A and propulsion class 1 AS, the highest levels awarded by these classification registries, allowing it to operate in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known for its adverse weather conditions. "F.-A.-Gauthier" is also able to break sea ice, thanks to its innovative bow and stern, designed and patented by Fincantieri.
The ferry’s two electric propulsion engines operate azimuth thrusters, each equipped with two Countrar-Rotating propellers, which together with transverse propellers, make the ferry exceptionally manoeuvrable. These characteristics, combined with a complex and extensive system of ramps and doors at both bow and stern, will allow the vessel to load and unload very quickly.
At 133 metres long and 22 metres wide, "F.-A.-Gauthier" will have a service speed of 20 knots and will be able to carry more than 800 passengers. The ferry will be used in the Province of Québec for multiple services on the Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout route, which, with 1,600 sailings a year, provides transport for more than 205,000 passengers and over 118,000 vehicles.
Trieste, 28 June 2014
A Québec Government Corporation, Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) operates directly or in partnership eleven ferries and two maritime services along the St. Lawrence River with its fleet of 17 ships. In the course of a single year, its 600 employees make about 115,000 crossings with 15 of these vessels, carrying over 5.4 million passengers and 2.3 million vehicles. STQ ferry crossings are important contributors to social, economic, and tourism development in the areas they serve. As Québec's leading ferry services provider, STQ enjoys a reputation for reliability and superior service dating back more than 43 years.
Fincantieri is one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups, which in over 200 years of maritime history has built more than 7.000 vessels. It is world leader in cruise ship construction and a reference player in other sectors, from naval vessels to cruise ferries, from mega-yachts to special high value-added vessels, ship repairs and conversions and offshore vessels. Headquartered in Trieste, the Group has more than 20,000 employees, of whom 7,700 in Italy, and 21 shipyards in 4 continents. During 2013 the Group acquired VARD, a company that builds offshore support vessels for oil & gas exploration and production and is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Fincantieri has thus doubled in size, becoming the western world's largest shipbuilder and world number one by diversification and presence in every high value-added market sector. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG). This company, which serves important government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Marinette Marine, Bay Shipbuilding, Ace Marine), all located in the Great Lakes region. Fincantieri is present in the UAE with Etihad Ship Building, a joint venture set up with Melara Middle East and Al Fattan Ship Industries, to design, produce and sell different types of civilian and military ships as well as perform maintenance and refitting activities.