AVIC lays keel for first of Stena’s E-Flexer ferries

A keel-laying ceremony has been held for the first of four E-Flexer-class Ro-Pax ferries for Sweden’s Stena Line at China’s AVIC Weihai Shipyard.

Stena Line Chief Executive Niclas Mårtensson said four coins (GBP, EUR, SEK and RMB) were placed under the keel-block as a symbol of good fortune for the 214.5-metre by 27.8-metre by 6.4-metre vessel.

Accommodating 1,000 passengers in 175 cabins, the 3,100-lane metre Ro-Pax vessel has capacity for 120 cars.

She is powered by two 12,600kW diesel engines that achieve an operating speed of 22 knots.

Scheduled for delivery in 2019 and 2020, the new Ro-Pax vessels will be deployed on the Irish Sea.