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Wightlink
have three new ferries coming into
service on the Lymington-Yarmouth route during 2008-9. The new ferries will mark the start of a whole new
era for the route, as they will be more fuel efficient,
offer greater flexibility and will have more attractive
passenger facilities on board.
The ferries
have been designed by Naval Architects ‘Hart Fenton’ and are
being built at the Brodogradiliste Kraljevica, Croatia.
The current
ferries have to be replaced, as they are now over 34 years
old and whilst they have provided excellent service they are
now reaching the end of their useful lives. It is simply not
practical to invest in modifications that will be required
to comply with imminent regulations.
The new
ferries have been designed exclusively for the route and we
have carried out a process of extensive consultation to
arrive at the design of the new ferries to ensure that they
both complied with the new regulations and were also
suitable for the change in traffic mix on the route.
The first keel was laid in June
2007, Wightlink will take
delivery of the first two ships in summer 2008, and they are expected to enter
service later in the year. The third ship is due to join the first two
in early 2009'
The new ships are being built under the supervision of Portsmouth based
Naval Architects, Hart Fenton; and Wightlink’s own Project Manager, Colin
Stanton, who will be based at the yard in Croatia for the duration of the
build.
Follow the progress here...
Follow the progress of the new ships' construction here
on
www.wightlink.co.uk/newships, we will be posting news and photos as they
come in from Croatia.
Press releases:
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