![Damen launches new road ferry for Lake Ontario](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F191126-11-Damen.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Amherst Islander II, the first of two road ferries ordered by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, Canada, was recently launched at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania.
The 72-metre Amherst Islander II and the 99-metre Wolfe Islander IV, which is currently under construction and scheduled for launch in mid-2020, will be the first passenger/car ferries in North America with the ability to operate fully electric.
The vessels' electric operation is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 7,000 tonnes each year.
Both ferries will serve the route between Amherst and Wolfe Island on Lake Ontario.