Brittany Ferries’ new LNG-powered cruise ferry Honfleur was launched at the FSG shipyard in Flensburg, Germany.
The launch is the third milestone in the construction of Honfleur, following cutting of the first steel in March, and laying of the keel in August.
Since the keel was laid, 118 huge steel hull sections have been welded together on the slipway. The completed hull already contains all the ship’s main machinery including its LNG-electric propulsion system, Brittany Ferries said in a statement.
Altogether Honfleur will carry up to 1,680 passengers and will offer 261 cabins, two cinemas, restaurants, boutique shopping and choice of spacious passenger lounges
When it enters service it will be the first ship on the Channel to be powered by liquefied natural gas.
The launch marks the beginning of the next phase of the ship’s construction. Over the coming weeks and months, two giant superstructure blocks currently en route by barge from shipyards in Poland will be hoisted into position by cranes, and the ferry’s interiors will be installed.
Then, the ship will complete a series of sea trials allowing every system on board to be tested before the first passengers board the vessel on the Portsmouth to Caen/Ouistreham route in summer 2019.