Newbuild due for delivery to Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government in autumn 2015
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Damen Shipyards Galaţi in Romania recently launched MV Veteran, the first of two ice-class ro-pax ferries on order for Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government.
Designed by Canadian company Fleetway and Danish architect Knud E. Hansen, the 80m ferry will be able to transport up to 60 cars and 200 passengers and is on schedule for her planned autumn 2015 delivery. Her sister ship will be delivered in early 2016.
“We are working very hard to deliver these ferries on schedule and on budget,” said Jan van Hogerwou, manager of North America at Damen.
The launch coincides with Damen taking a step further towards setting up a Damen-certified service and maintenance centre in St. John’s, the capital of the Newfoundland and Labrador region.
“We are currently in conversation with a number of potential local service partners and we foresee entering into partnership with one of two of them,” said Hogerwou. “This represents a commitment to the Canadian market, which, ultimately, should pave the way towards local economic benefits and future construction opportunities.”