The government of Ontario in Canada has ordered two new ferries at Dutch yard group Damen.
The 'road' vessels will operate in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.
Damen said a 68-metre Damen Road Ferry 6819 and a 98-metre Damen Road Ferry 9819 will be delivered at the end of 2019 and at the end of 2020.
Canadian media reported the price at CAD 61m ($47.8m).
Both will be hybrid-ready, enabling them to be fitted with batteries when required.
The ferries will be based in Kingston and Loyalist Township, Ontario, at the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario.
The new ferries will be significantly larger than the existing vessels and will create more economic benefits, helping more people, vehicles and goods travel to and from the islands.
The larger of the two new ferries will serve the nearby Wolfe Island while the smaller will serve Amherst Island, just a few kilometres to the west.
Leo Postma, Damen sales manager, said: “This new contract is a continuation of successful sales into Canada by Damen and the two new ships will take the number of Damen ferries operating in the country up to eight, along with other Damen workboats.
"More are also currently under construction. As a result of orders such as these, Damen Shipyards Galati is becoming an international centre of excellence for the production of ferries.”
