Passenger and freight ferry operator DFDS Seaways chartered a new ferry boat for the English Channel, that will be built by the Chinese Avic Weihai shipyard and is set to debut in 2021.
The ferry will be chartered from Stena Line for 10 years and then purchasing options will be explored. The ferry ship, which will consume around 25% less oil than similar vessels, will carry 1,000 passengers and 3,100 lane metres of cargo. This will make her the biggest vessel of the kind on the Channel.
Image: DFDS Regina Seaways ferry
4 DFDS captains used simulators to test how to navigate the ship to make sure that she's equipped for the Channel's conditions.
The initial plan is for the ferry to replace DFDS’s Calais Seaways (1991-built). However, the final deployment plan (to be announced in 2020) will be determined by market developments.