The first three vessels will be used by Norled.

Sembcorp Marine has completed the fabrication of its first three battery-operated roll-on/roll-off passenger (ROPAX) ferries for Norweigan ferry operator Norled.

The group was commissioned by Norled to design and construct the ferries based on the design of LMG Marin. The vessels are 82.4m long, multi-deck, and double-ended, each with a capacity for 300 passengers and crew as well as 80 cars, or a combination of up to 10  cars and 10 trailer trucks. It also considered passengers' comfort and working conditions for the crew.

" The demand for passenger ferries is anticipated to increase, owing to a wide range of factors including  the emerging trend of ferries as a viable alternative transport, development in marine fuel technologies, and inclination of consumers towards luxury marine travel," president and CEO Wong Weng Sun said.

" Sembcorp Marine, with its extensive track record and suite of proprietary designs for various types of ships and offshore engineering solutions, will continue to strategically position the group strongly to support the maritime industry' s transition towards renewable energy and the adoption of green technologies. This latest project marks our commitment to our customer and their pursuit of green solutions for the industry."

The two remaining ROPAX ferries will be ready within the year.

It was held on February 22, in Aracruz - ES, visit of the CEO of EMGEPRON, Vice Admiral (RM1-IM) Edesio Teixeira Lima Junior, and entourage, to the Shipyard Jurong Aracruz Ltda (EJA), member of the Society of Specific Purpose (SPE) POLAR-1, selected to build the Antarctic Support Ship (NApAnt) for the Brazilian Navy (MB).



The general coordinator of strategic programs of the Navy, Vice Admiral (RM1) Antonio Reginaldo Pontes Lima Junior and the Project Manager NApAnt, Captain of Sea and War (RM1) Archimedes Francisco Delgado were part of the committee. The entourage was received by the President of the Shipyard, Mr. Thangavelu Guhan, Manager of the NApAnt Project of POLAR 1, Eng. Ivano Lery Santos, Commercial Manager of The EJA, Eng. Maicon Batista Pinto, and Manager of Administration and Security of The EJA, Mrs. Lani Tardin.

At the time, a presentation was held on the main aspects involving the NApAnt Project, the progress of the Construction Contract negotiations and also a visit to the EJA facilities.



By June of this year, EMGEPRON will sign, with SPE POLAR-1, the Construction Contract, which is in the final phase of negotiation, being also responsible for supervising the construction of the ship in the EJA, expected to be ready and be delivered to MB within three years.