Fincantieri starts work on ‘Gauthier’

The 230-ton keel section laid today at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard marks the start of construction of the latest generation ferry built by Fincantieri, F.-A.-Gauthier. 

At 133M long and 22M wide, ‘Gauthier’ will boast a maximum speed of 20 knots and be able to provide accommodation for over 1,000 passengers. The ferry is scheduled for delivery in Canada by the end of 2014 and is a concentration of technology and innovation. Fincantieri will adopt the most advanced solutions, taking into consideration energy saving and ensuring low environmental impact.

Similarly to modern cruise ships, the ferry will be equipped with a diesel electric propulsion system. The four diesel power generators are dual fuel and can run on either gas (Liquid Natural Gas - LNG) or marine diesel oil. Two electric propulsion engines operate azimuth thrusters, each equipped with two counter-rotating propellers, which together with transverse propellers, giving the ferry exceptional maneuverability.

The ferry ‘Gauthier’ will be used in the Québec province for multiple services on the Matane-Baie-Comeau-Godbout route, which allows more than 205,000 passengers and over 118,000 vehicles to travel with 1,600 sailings a year.

For more information, visit Fincantieri.