Irish Continental Group announced it had ordered the largest cruise ferry in the world by vehicle capacity.
The US$200 million vessel will be able to carry up to 330 trucks on the Dublin-to-Holyhead Irish Ferries' service, about 50% more than the current ship operating the route. It is being built to ice class specifications, allowing the ferry to be deployed to points further north if needed.
Freight capacity will be provided on 5 decks. In an unusual arrangement, the ship has been designed for 3-tier freight bow loading to allow quick turnaround times.
The newbuild will be able to accommodate up to 1,800 passengers, and will include state-of-the-art entertainment options, cinemas, retail outlets, restaurants and bars, in addition to facilities for truck drivers.
Exclusive areas for premium "Club Class" guests include a dedicated lounge and private access from the vehicle decks.
According to ICG, the as-yet-unnamed ferry will use scrubbers. The new vessel will be built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesselschaft. Delivery is expected during the first half of 2020.
The new ferry is expected to replace the schedule of MV Ulysses, which in turn is due to replace the currently chartered MV Epsilon.