STX France gets order for zero-emissions ferry

The communities of Cap L’Orient on the coast of Brittany, France, have selected STX France’s Lanester shipyard to build a new “zero emissions” eco-friendly ferry. Ten companies responded to a call for tenders launched by Cap L’Orient. The Lanester yard was  “the only one able to guarantee a technology completely avoiding the release of greenhouse gas emissions,” the Mayor of L’Orient, Norbert Metairie, told the newspaper Ouest France.

The EUR 3.2 million ferry, which will be delivered in the summer 2012, will have the following dimensions:

Length overall: 22 m
Overall beam:7 m
Draft:1.2 m
Speed:10 knots
Passengers :130

The ferry will use supercapacitor technology developed and patented by STX Europe. Naval architecture and ship design is by Stirling Design International (SDI) of Nantes, France.  Propulsion will be by two azimuthing thrusters

SDI says that the use of energy storage based on supercapacitors meant a complete rethink of the vessel’s architecture, including watertight compartment definition, lightship weight distribution, electric thruster selection,  as well as  hull form.

Special attention has been given to detail design, allowing reduction of thermal loads on the glazing of the passenger lounge and wheelhouse.Natural ventilation has been used though out the ship with numerous hatches on the roof. Photovoltaic panels contribute to improving the electrical autonomy of the vessel during navigation.

May 2, 2011