Piriou to build RoPax ferry
3D illustration of the new RoPax ferry (Source: Piriou/SDI)
Concarneau-based shipyard Piriou has an order to build a 55m-long/391-passenger RoPax vessel. The French local Government authority Pays de la Loire Region has ordered the vessel to serve the island of Yeu off west France. Delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2022.
The ferry will be built to a Piriou design in collaboration with the Nantes-based naval architecture design office Stirling Design International. The design aims to offer large transport capacity in spite of the requirement for a draught of only 2.35m. The vessel will carry 12 cars and four motorbikes, 340 freight pallets and two trucks of 19 tonnes.
252 seats for passengers will be provided in inside lounges and 139 seats outside. The passenger area was designed to ensure smooth and safe movement between loading/unloading areas and the lounges. To give passengers a pleasant crossing, the number of windows has been maximised and bright lounges are planned in several accommodation areas. The vessel will have a crew of eight. Hull and superstructure will be of steel and aluminium. Propulsion power will come from two 1,440-kW units and two bow thrusters, which will allow a maximum speed of 15 knots. For loading and unloading, the ship will be equipped with two 3-tonne cranes.
