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On 30 July, LaNaval, the Spanish shipyard, successfully launched “Texelstroom”, the ropax unit it is currently constructing on behalf of the Dutch ferry operator Koninklijke NV Texels Eigen Stoomboot Onderneming (TESO). Alan Lam reports.

Designed by C-Job Naval Architects to replace an older vessel, Schulpengat, on the short 4.2-kilometre crossing between the Dutch island of Texel and Den Helder, the ice class ferry will be immensely fuel-efficient. Its over all energy consumption will be up to 30% lower than the vessel it replaces - a breakthrough in sustainability.

Supported by the EU i.Transfer funding programme, the newbuilding has a disproportionate emphasis on design and technology in correspondence to TESO’s service philosophy and its pledge to the environmental protection.

The dual-fuel Texelstroom will be an exceptionally “green” ferry, powered by both CNG and gas oil, with a capacity for 1,750 passengers and 350 cars. The ship will have 700m2 of solar panels installed on its wheelhouse deck, aiming to produce about 40-50% of hotel load energy requirement. The choice of CNG instead of LNG was driven by the lack of LNG infrastructure in the Netherlands.

It is a dual-bridged, double-ended vessel, designed for quick stevedoring operations and linear movement in either direction. The ship has twice the number of engines, as compared to other conventional ropaxes, with two completely independent engine rooms: one of them fitted with two ABC 2x2000 kW diesel engines and the other with two ABC dual fuel 2x2000 kW engines; each can provide enough power to continue the normal service up to wind force nine. It will have two Rolls Royce azimuth propellers at each end of the vessel to achieve a service speed of 10 and 15 knots. Battery electric power is employed to supply additional energy requirement and to reduce emissions while in ports.

LED lighting and optimised hull form are among a myriad of other energy efficient features of Texelstroom.

These rather unique features have brought about a significant increase in the cost of construction, as compared to that of other traditional designs.

Spain’s 100-year-old LaNaval Shipyard at Sestao won the building contract for this 135-metre vessel in 2014. The yard is known for its expertise in constructing offshore vessels and tankers. It has not built a passenger vessel for decades.

The construction process started on 1 September 2014. LaNaval is on course to deliver the ship in December this year.