V.Ships has clinched a crew management deal for what it called the world's first LNG-fuelled fast ferry with Spain's Balearia.
The UK group's V.Ships Leisure division will supply seafarers in March following completion of the 1,200-passenger, 15,000-gt Eleanor Roosevelt at the Armon shipyard in Spain.
The ship, which can also carry 500 vehicles and cargo, was ordered in 2018 at a cost of €90m ($102m) and was originally set for handover in June 2020.
Balearia has said the Eleanor Roosevelt will be "the longest and highest-capacity fast ferry catamaran currently in existence".
The 123-metre, dual-fuel ship will have a maximum speed of 40 knots.
Super-stable
The Eleanor Roosevelt will come with a state-of-the-art stabilisation system, designed to considerably reduce movement, V.Ships said.
"Vibrations and noise will also be minimised thanks to an elastically floating superstructure and the installation of high-tech insulation," the company added.
Luca Fanciulli, managing director for V.Ships Leisure, said that since 2016, the crewing team in Monaco, lead by planning manager Sabrina Simonazzi, has built an "excellent relationship" with Balearia.
V.Ships already provides crewing services to 11 of the group's vessels.
The new ferry will use four Wartsila engines that run on LNG or diesel. The operational range will be 400 nautical miles (741 km).
The bow of the aluminium ship has been designed to combine performance improvements derived from vertical bows on the side hulls with the incorporation of wave piercing.
The newbuilding forms part of a “smart concept” being developed by Balearia, comprising the application of new technologies, big data and artificial intelligence through the digitisation of its vessels and terminals.
Fjord Line has been running two ro-paxes on LNG since 2013 and 2014.
