Damen Launches First of Two Ro-Pax Ferries
Eighty-meter ice class Ro-Pax ferry MV Veteran was recently launched by Damen Shipyards Galaţi in Romania, the builder announced today.
The vessel represents the first of a two-vessel contract, with a design stemming from a Canadian-Danish partnership between Fleetway and Knud E. Hansen.
A video of the launch is available here.
A video of the launch is available here.
“We are working very hard to deliver these ferries on schedule and on budget,” said Damen Manager North America Jan van Hogerwou. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery to the province in the fall of this year and in early 2016. Both ferries will be able to transport up to 60 cars and 200 passengers.
The launch coincides with Damen taking a step further toward establishing a Damen certified service and maintenance center in St. John’s, the capital of the Newfoundland and Labrador region.
“We are currently in conversation with a number of potential local service partners and we foresee entering into partnership with one of two of them,” Hogerwou continued. “This represents a commitment to the Canadian market, which, ultimately, should pave the way towards local economic benefits and future construction opportunities.”
Further boosting its role in Canada’s maritime employment sector, Damen also recently attended student career days at the Newfoundland and Labrador-based Memorial University.