Operators in Sweden and Norway have taken delivery of new Ro-Pax ferries as two tenders to be used for disembarkation of cruise ship guests will soon be handed over to a UK-based customer. Construction is meanwhile underway on a French-designed, compact yacht support vessel.
Stena Line newbuild begins serving Baltic Sea routes
Stena Line has begun operational sailings of Stena Ebba, a new Ro-Pax ferry built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard Weihai.
The Deltamarin-designed newbuild has already begun serving the route between Karlskrona in Sweden and Gdynia in Poland.
As with earlier sister Stena Estelle, Stena Ebba has an LOA of 240 metres, a beam of 28 metres, a draught of 5.7 metres, a gross tonnage of 45,000, and capacity for 1,200 passengers and 3,600 lane metres of freight.
Passengers will be housed in 263 cabins, which also include staterooms with wheelchair- and pet-friendly features. Other onboard amenities include a restaurant, a cafe, a bar, lounges, a retail shop, a casino game area, and a children's play area.
Construction completed on tender pair for UK cruise company
Dalian, China-based ODC Marine has completed construction on two tender craft in a series order by UK expedition cruise operator Swan Hellenic.
Designed by French naval architect Eric Jean, SH Castor and SH Pollux each measure 12 metres long and have seating for up to 48 passengers. The tenders were built to function as more suitable alternatives to inflatable boats in providing all-weather disembarkations of guests at small ports.
The vessels will be embarked aboard the polar expedition vessel SH Diana, which will be the third ship to join the Swan Hellenic fleet following the completion of its construction in Finland.
Norled's newest battery-powered ferry sails on delivery voyage
Singapore shipbuilder Sembcorp Marine has handed over the final one of three identical battery-powered Ro-Pax vessels ordered by Norwegian ferry operator Norled.
Designed by Sembcorp's wholly owned subsidiary LMG Marin, the double-ended Leikanger has an LOA of 82.4 metres, a beam of 16.4 metres, and capacity for 300 passengers and crew and up to 80 cars.
Like earlier sister ferries Hella and Dragsvik, Leikanger runs on lithium-ion batteries charged by hydro-electric energy power. The vessel is also able to operate in hybrid mode utilising combined battery-diesel power as an alternative.
Leikanger will be deployed on Norled's shortsea Hella-Vangsnes-Dragsvik connections in Norway, joining Hella, which commenced service in May 2022, and Dragsvik, which started operations in December 2022.
French-designed yacht support boat hits the water
ODC Marine recently launched a new yacht support vessel ordered by an undisclosed customer.
Named Carmen, the vessel was designed by France's Mer et Design.
The 18-metre vessel has deck space for up to four personal watercraft as well as capacity for 3,000 litres of fuel and 800 litres of fresh water. Onboard facilities will include a galley, a pantry, and a laundry area.
Power will be provided by two Cummins QSL9 engines.