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Croatian Shipyard Penetrates Ferry Newbuild Sector

24 years ago

The Viktor Lenac Shipyard in Croatia, best known for its repair and conversion work in Europe but also a builder of small specialist vessels, has now revealed it has also penetrated the market for ferry new buildings and said demand in that sector is expected to rise.

After a nine month construction period, the former Yugoslav shipyard has launched the 42m long and 15m wide catamaran ferry Sveti Kristofor. The ship is driven by two 500 kW engines, providing 9 knots. It will accommodate 48 vehicles and 200 passengers and be ready for operation by Summer this year, a Victor Lenac spokeswoman told Maritime Journal.

Boats Consulting in Rijeka designed the ferry newbuilding and Lenac said the Croatian Register of Shipping was supervising construction.

Project Manager Marko Domijan said the ship was launched using a heavy lifter.

He said owners Rapska plovidba in the city of Rab were ‘very satisfied with the works so far, and have announced the possibility of signing a contract for a sister ship for delivery by Summer 2004’.

The yard said the newbuilding had taken it into a ‘very interesting ferry market in which the demand is expected to rise thanks to favourable tourist expectations’.