Passenger Vessel News Roundup | May 28 – Russian electric river ferries, cruise ship sea trials and more
A Russian operator places new commuter ferries into service as an LNG-fuelled cruise ship begins undergoing sea trials. Orders include a Ro-Pax ferry for the Baltic Sea and two additional cruise ships to be built in France.
Finnlines orders new Ro-Pax vessels for Baltic Sea operation
Deltamarin has signed a contract with China Merchant Weihai Shipyard for the design and engineering of Finnlines’ new Ro-Pax vessels. The signed contract includes the complete basic and detail design of three Ro-Pax vessels built for Finnlines and to be operated in the Baltic Sea.
The basic design project will begin at Deltamarin immediately, with the majority of the work scheduled to be completed by early 2026.
Russian yard floats out new electric river ferry
Russian shipyard Emperium has launched the first vessel in a new series of electric river ferries ordered by local shipowner Vodokhod.
Streina belongs to the Project Moskva 2.0 series of river ferries, which are being built as improved variants of an earlier series of diesel-powered vessels that operated in Russian inland waters during the Soviet era.
Russia's STLC deploys new electric commuter ferries on Moskva River
Russia's State Transport Leasing Company (STLC) has taken delivery of four new electric commuter ferries in a series built by local shipyard Emperium.
The ferries belong to a series of electric monohull commuter ferries that will be operated on the Moskva River by the Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development on behalf of STLC. The first three vessels in the series were delivered in 2023 while another four were handed over earlier this year.
French shipbuilder secures repeat orders from MSC Cruises
French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique has secured contracts for the construction of two additional ships for MSC Cruises.
The ships will be the fifth and sixth in a series that also includes the 2022-built MSC World Europa, the recently delivered MSC World America, and MSC World Asia, which is scheduled to enter service before the end of 2026. The still unnamed fourth ship in the class has a tentative delivery date of 2027.
Royal Caribbean's newest LNG-fuelled ship starts sea trials
Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku has begun conducting sea trials of Star of the Seas, a new cruise ship ordered by US cruise operator Royal Caribbean International.
The ship measures 1,196 by 159 feet (364.75 by 48.47 metres) and will feature 2,805 cabins for housing 5,600 guests. A parabolic bow design is incorporated in the hull to provide additional stability, ensuring smoother motion while underway.
