Keel-laying of SeaRoad roro

March 3, 2023

The keel-laying of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) newbuild 784 for Tasmania’s SeaRoad took place on 27 February.  The LNG-powered vessel will be named SEAROAD I.

The first module, weighing more than 154 tonnes was lowered onto a pallet by crane and a coin was placed under the keel for good fortune.  The nails were hammered into the keel-laying plate by Philipp Maracke, Managing Director of FSG Nobiskrug Holding, Chas Kelly, CEO SeaRoad, Tony Johnson, Technical Marine Manager SeaRoad, and Dustin Lind, the youngest trainee at FSG.

The new roro ferry will sail on the Bass Strait between Devonport and Melbourne.

SEAROAD I will join SEAROAD MERSEY II in Q2 2024, replacing the chartered LIEKUT.  LIEKUT is a 4,076 lane-metre ro-ro also built by FSG.

The EUR 100 million contract is financed by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

SEAROAD I Key Facts

  • Gross Tonnage 43,100 GRT
  • Length 210 metres
  • Width 29.30 metres
  • Power main engines 2 x 10,300 kilowatts
  • Speed 22.5 knots
  • Cargo Capacity 3,722 lane metres plus capacity for 101 cars
    (= 4,227 lane metres in total)  Ship will be able to accommodate heavy cargo weighing up to 100 tonnes.
  • Cabins 25 (27 berths)

Photos: Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG)