China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai has delivered Stena’s LNG-powered ferry Ala’suinu which will serve Canada’s Marine Atlantic.
Sweden’s Stena RoRo and CMJL (Weihai) announced the delivery of the E-Flexer vessel in separate statements on February 7.
In July 2021, Stena signed a charter agreement for this LNG-powered ferry with Marine Atlantic.
The charter period has now begun, and Marine Atlantic will have the option to purchase the vessel after the period.
Ala’suinu is expected to arrive in Canada in April.
The vessel will primarily operate on the Argentia service this summer, connecting customers between Cape Breton and eastern Newfoundland, and operate between Port aux Basques and North Sydney during the fall, winter, and spring periods, according to Marine Atlantic.
The vessels’ engines can run on LNG, conventional marine fuel (MGO), or biodiesel.
Moreover, the roll-on/roll-off cargo and passenger ferry is 203 meters long and 27.8 meters wide.
It has a capacity for 1,000 passengers and 2,500 lane meters.
This is the tenth E-Flexer vessel Stena RoRo ordered from the Chinese yard.
In January, the firm ordered the thirteenth vessel in the E-Flexer series and this LNG-powered ship will serve France’s Corsica Linea.