Seafrance
Northrop Grumman to Supply Bridge System for New Passenger Ferry
Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected to supply the bridge navigation and communication systems for a new SeaFrance high-performance vehicle-passenger ferry, which is being built at Alstom’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The new ferry, to be christened SeaFrance Berlioz, in honor of the famous French composer, is scheduled to enter service in February 2005. The ship will be fitted with a multi-console Voyage Management System from Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit. System components will include a type-approved electronic chart display and information system, interswitched BridgeMaster E navigation radars, a networked self-tuning adaptive autopilot and main steering system, voyage data recorder, automatic identification system, gyrocompasses and other navigation sensors and systems. The bridge installation will include multiple navigation and control consoles utilizing the latest high-resolution flat-screen LCD technology. Also included is a communications suite complying with the international requirements of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. Sperry Marine will work closely with the owner and shipyard to provide technical support, program management, installation, commissioning and crew training. The bridge installation for SeaFrance Berlioz will be similar to the system earlier previously supplied by Sperry Marine for the sister ship, SeaFrance Rodin, which was launched in November 2001
Aker Constructs For SeaFrance
Aker Finnyards and SeaFrance have signed a contract worth more than $88.9 million for the construction of a new car-passenger ferry for the Dover-Calais route. Touted as the fastest and largest vessel to ever operate on that route, the 607 ft. (185 m) ferry is scheduled for a September 2001 delivery. Able to transport 1,900 passengers and 700 cars at speeds of up to 25 knots, the vessel will reportedly the fastest of its kind operating on its route; reducing crossing time to approximately
UK Ferries Among Least Safe In Europe, Survey Finds
A safety survey found that three of the four worst performing ferries in Europe sail from British ports. The survey of 26 ferries by European motoring organizations gave the lowest rating to P&O European Ferries' "Pride of Rathlin," which sails from Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland. P&O Portsmouth's "Pride of Hampshire," which connects Portsmouth and Cherbourg, and SeaFrance's "SeaFrance Monet," which sails from Dover to Calais
UK Ferries Among Least Safe In Europe, Survey Finds
A safety survey has found that three of the four worst performing ferries in Europe sail from British ports. The survey of 26 ferries by European motoring organizations gave the lowest rating to P&O European Ferries' "Pride of Rathlin", which sails from Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland. P&O Portsmouth's "Pride of Hampshire", which connects Portsmouth and Cherbourg, and SeaFrance's "SeaFrance Monet", which sails from Dover to Calais
Innovation on the Irish Sea
Nordic prowess in ferry technology, coupled with Irish business verve, is set to take the sector to a new highpoint as regards the concentration of wheeled freight capacity in a RoRo passenger vessel. Built in the cruise ferry mold, Irish Ferries' 50,000-gt Ulysses embodies 4,100 lane-meters of garaging for trucks on four decks. The vessel is an eloquent testament to the operator's robust traffic development, and its perception of new opportunities arising from unprecedented growth in the