Ferry Shipping News Mike Louagie
travelled in mid-January 2020 on HOLLANDIA SEAWAYS,
She is the third mega freight ferry for DFDS.
INTRODUCTION
In 2016, DFDS signed a contract with the CSC Jinling Shipyard in China, for two large roro vessels. Later on, 2+2 more ships were added to the order.
In February 2020, four ships are in operation: [links: MarineTraffic]
EPHESUS SEAWAYS on the route Trieste – Istanbul (Pendik)
TROY SEAWAYS on the route Trieste – Istanbul
HOLLANDIA SEAWAYS on Ghent – Gothenburg
HUMBRIA SEAWAYS on Vlaardingen (Rotterdam) – Immingham
Design: Knud E. Hansen [link to EPHESUS SEAWAYS webpage]
Concept design and the tender design package in 2015/2016: OSK-Shiptech
After the contract between Jinling Shipyard and DFDS Knud E. Hansen updated the tender design to contract design, and made the basic design.
The ship is built for fast turnaround times. It has a unique ramp system featuring three independent axial ramps over the main deck’s stern threshold and internal ramps on each side of the ship, allowing for simultaneous loading and unloading.
From quay to quay the crossing between Belgium and Gothenburg takes 32 hours. Unloading/loading of 6,700 lane metres or almost 450 trailers is done in less than 8 hours.
The vessel makes two return trips a week.
Look at this video to understand the roro operations.
The ship can take 12 passengers, in individual cabins (some have two berths). In summer this solution is popular amongst Belgian travellers who want to go on holiday to Sweden or Norway.
Crew mess is on port side, passenger mess on starboard. In between is the galley.
