Norway’s Fiskerstrand Verft delivers lengthened double-ender ferry to new Canadian owners

Norwegian ship conversion specialist Fiskerstrand Verft has successfully completed the major conversion of the former Norwegian double-ender ferry Kvernsund into the latest vessel to join the fleet of Canada’s Labrador Marine Inc. – Astron W.

The conversion of the 2014-built former Norled-owned ferry was a major project for Fiskerstrand and involved lengthening the ferry by 8.4m, reinforcing the ice-strengthened hull, installing a new propulsion system, fitting a new interior, and adapting the vessel to fit her new Canadian terminals.

Astron W sailed from Stavanger on March 25th for the east coast of Canada, via the Dutch port of Ijmuiden and Le Havre. Designed by Norway’s LMG Marin and built by Turkey’s Sefine Shipyard, Astron W, which now measures 51.4m x 11m, was originally built to carry 90 passengers, 25 cars, or two trailers. Her new capacities are not yet known.

This is not the first time that Labrador Marine Inc. has used this Norwegian yard for conversion and upgrade work. In 2019, Fiskerstrand upgraded two former Estonian-owned ferries, Hiiumaa and Grete that it acquired from Saarema Shipping Co, both of which were built by the Norwegian shipyard in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Meanwhile, undergoing repair at this yard on March 29th were the following vessels:

• Deep Cygnus – 9,423gt 2009-built subsea construction, IMR and W2W vessel, owned by Norway’s Reach Subsea, Bergen
• Ronja Supporter – 2,200dwt 2016-built fish carrier (well boat), owned by Norway’s Sølvtrans and on long-term charter to the Scottish Salmon Co