The GRP Division of Astilleros Gondan shipyard (Spain) signed a contract to construct a new fast ferry - claimed would be the fastest GRP passenger catamaran ever built in Spain. GRP signifies glass-reinforced plastic.
The contract includes the building in just 9 months of the passenger catamaran for an European country. The ship, due to reach 34 knots at full load, will be driven via a couple of 3,000 hp engines, that will also make it the most powerful GRP ferry boat built in Spain.
The Asturian shipbuilder's GRP division can lay claim to be the only shipyard in Spain that to date has built ships according to demanding high speed regulations, HSC 2000, with no problems of homologation as well as on the agreed delivery dates. The shipyard recently received the recognition of Spanish Official Association of Naval Architects for the latest deliveries: 4 Eco Fast Ferry units, that received the award for the year's most outstanding vessel. The catamarans, also HSC 2000, constructed for BALEARIA, are now operating between Ibiza and Formentera Island, and complete the track record of GOndan Shipbuilders in the field of high speed catamarans.
Astilleros Gondan has facilities in Barres, Castropol and Figueras. It claims to be recognised for the ability to build any type of boat, with no technological limits, but featuring the flexibility to incorporate improvements during the building process to meet the shipowner's needs along with the strictest quality standards.