Northern Europe’s shipping firm DFDS has entered into a 10-year bareboat charter agreement with Swedish ferry company Stena RoRo for a newbuilding ro-pax vessel.
The new unit, scheduled for delivery in early 2021, would ensure capacity for freight and passengers on the English Channel.
DFDS informed that the ferry will be tailored to its requirements for deployment on the Channel.
The initial plan is for replacement of the oldest of the ferries, Calais Seaways, that was built in 1991 with a capacity of 1,600 lane meters for freight and around 1,000 passengers.
The company’s two channel-routes currently deploy six ferries and the charter is part of the ongoing renewal of the fleet. The final deployment plan will be announced in 2020.
The new ro-pax will have a freight capacity of 3,100 lane meters and will accommodate around 1,000 passengers with room on board to offer a wide range of passenger services. The ferry is highly efficient and environmentally friendly with an expected reduction in oil consumption of around 25% compared to current ferries, DFDS informed.