Scandlines charters new ship for Travemünde-Liepaja-Ventspils

Author: Susanne Brigitte Kock
Source: www.scandlines.de

Scandlines reports sharp growth in freight transport to the Baltic region for 2010/2011. The shipping company is now deploying another new ship to meet increasing demand. From the end of May 2011 the chartered RO/PAX ferry M/V Watling Street will ply the Travemünde-Liepaja-Ventspils route together with the M/V Urd, offering four departures a week. The sister ship to M/V Scottish Viking (Nynäshamn-Ventspils) replaces the M/V Ask, which previously served the route between Germany and Latvia. In comparison, the M/V Watling Street has a good 30 per cent more freight capacity and passenger capacity is being doubled.

The M/V Watling Street was built in 2008 at the Visentini shipyard in Italy. The ship is 186 metres long, has 2,255 loading metres as well as space for 195 cars and 489 passengers. Travellers can choose from a total of 109 cabins in different classes. The M/V Watling Street also offers modern on-board facilities with a restaurant bar and shop.

Søren Poulsgaard Jensen, COO Scandlines, "In 2010 Scandlines increased its transport figures in Baltic traffic year on year by 59.7 per cent for freight and 48.5 per cent for passengers. For 2011 we are expecting another rise. Introducing the M/V Watling Street enables us to meet market demands even better – of course this applies primarily to freight. We are nevertheless also seeing growing tourist interest in our Baltic routes. With the M/V Watling Street we are well prepared to accommodate that."

Key figures for M/V Watling Street

Length: 186 metres

Max. Width: 25.6 metres

Draft: 6.85 metres

Capacity: 2,255 loading metres, 489 passengers, 195 cars

Main engines: 21,600 kW

Speed: 24 knots

Puttgarden, 12.05.2011

Scandlines was established in 1998 and is one of the largest shipping companies in Europe. Scandlines' core business is the transport of passengers and cargo in the triangle between Germany, Denmark and Sweden as well as on routes to the Baltic States and Finland. In 2010 Scandlines transported 12.4 million passengers, 2.8 million cars and 800,000 trucks and trailers, with the primary goal of ensuring efficient, reliable and competitive transport.

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