RoPax ferry 6716 choosen for new route
Impression of the RoPax ferry for Timor-Leste (Source: Damen)
The Republic of Timor-Leste in Asia and Damen Shipyards Group have signed a contract for a new RoRo/passenger ferry.
The vessel will operate a route between the Timor-Leste capital Dili, the Oecusse enclave and the island of Atauro, providing regular transportation of passengers, vehicles and goods on the north coast of the island. The ferry with the number 6716 is scheduled to begin operations in 2021, and will lower operational costs, increase reliability of the service, and improve employment opportunities due to the improvement in transport networks, Damen said.
Damen’s design and proposal engineer on the project, Gökçe Koc, explains why the vessel is ideal for Timor-Leste, “The vessel’s two Yanmar engines, delivering 837 kilowatts of power to a 1.6 metre fixed pitch propeller, give it the power to manoeuvre safely when docking as well as on the open water. It’s a remarkably stable vessel and combines high levels of comfort for the passengers along with high performance for the operator. APORTIL couldn’t have made a better choice.”
The ferry will have a length of 67.3m, a width of 16m and a draft of 3.3m. Its deck, with a 27-tonne axle load, will reach 4.8m in height. The vessel is capable of a maximum speed of 10 knots and will carry 380 passengers.
