By
Rebecca Gibson |
The first of Fjord Line’s two new cruise ferries was launched at Bergen Group Fosen’s Rissa shipyard in Sør-Trøndelag county on Thursday 6 June, following an extended drydock period.
Christening the vessel Stavangerfjord, godmother and mayor of Rogaland county Janne Johnsen emphasised the importance of its innovative propulsion systems, which will offer environmental benefits both at sea and when docked in port. “The ship will have a high profile on the west coast and will thus, in many ways, have great symbolic value for the Norwegian shipbuilding industry,” she said, breaking a bottle against the ship’s hull. “May good fortune smile on her and all who sail in her.”
Johnsen also said the new ship will enable the inhabitants of western and south-eastern Norway to commute to Denmark and the rest of the Continent easily, which will have a positive impact on the region’s tourism sector. “We also expect a sharp increase in the numbers of tourists arriving from Europe. So these beautiful, well-equipped cruise ferries will be of great importance to the Norwegian tourism industry,” she said.
Stavangerfjord was originally scheduled to begin its regular service on the route between Bergen, Stavanger and Hirtshals, as well as the route between Hirtshals and Langesund, on 29 May. However, shipbuilder Bergen Group Fosen needed more time to test engines and other advanced technical equipment, consequently the first regular departure from Hirtshals is now scheduled for 14 July.
Acknowledging the project’s difficulties, shipyard director Anders Straumsheim said: “It is even more gratifying to be able to deliver this elegant ship with new designs and environmentally-friendly LNG engines that will set the standard for similar projects to come.”