Aker Yards signed a contract with Tide Sjø AS for three ferries dedicated to operate the link between Oslo and the peninsula of Nesodden. The ferries will be built in France at Aker Yards, Lorient. The total contract price is approximately EUR 45 million. Construction will start in March next year and all three ferries will be delivered in the first half of 2009 and start operating in July 2009. The three ferries will have a capacity of 600 passengers and will be using environmental friendly LNG propulsion, a technology in which Aker Yards has a strong track record. Recently, five LNG-fuelled ferries were delivered for operation on the west coast of Norway. "This is an important order for Aker Yards on the very active coastal ferries market where we are gaining position," explains Juha Heikinheimo, President of Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries. "Aker Yards has a great potential to serve this market with our 18 yards, high competencies and latest innovations. This contract is a good example on how we utilize competence from one part of the group to the benefit of another."
Aker Yards, Lorient has already built eight ferries for Swedish, Greek and French operators. It will be the first ferries
using LNG technology for the yard. "Joining the Aker Yards Group has opened a lot of opportunities for this yard, in terms of market and know-how. We want to strengthen our presence on this specific market where the demand is high", comments Arnaud Le Joncour, SVP Sales & Marketing of Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries.