Italian shipyard floats Baleària LNG ferry

The first of Baleària’s two LNG-powered ferries has been launched at the Italian shipyard Cantiere Navale Visenti.

The 186.5-metre Ro-Ro vessel, which has a capacity of 810 passengers and 2,180 lane metres for 150 vehicles, will reach a top speed of 24 knots.

Expected to enter service early in 2019, Hypatia de Alejandría will now undergo final outfitting before becoming the first gas-propelled passenger ferry operating in the Mediterranean Sea.

She will be a sister ship to Marie Curie as part of a €200 million investment in “smart” ships.