China's Zhoushan Putuo Island Passenger Transport orders locally built ferry

Chinese operator Zhoushan Putuo Island Passenger Transport and Jianglong Shipbuilding have entered into an agreement for the construction of a new ferry that will transport both regular passengers and tourists to and from the Zhoushan archipelago in Zhejiang province.

Upon completion, the ferry will have all-steel construction, an LOA of 47.6 metres, a beam of 10.2 metres, and space for up to 330 passengers. Two main engines will propel the vessel to a service speed of 15 knots.

The ferry will feature two decks. The enclosed areas on the main and upper decks will be fitted with panoramic windows to provide passengers with unobstructed views of the outside, though the upper deck will also have an aft open-air observation space.

Jianglong Shipbuilding had earlier delivered a number of vessels for the same operator. In 2021, the company handed over Putuo Xiangyun, a 40-metre, 288-passenger catamaran with a top speed of 23 knots.