Laying the keel for new Fjord Line Ferry in Gdansk

The traditional starting point for a new ship, known as laying the keel, has been celebrated for the first of Fjord Line's two new cruise ferries with a ceremony at the shipyard in Gdansk on Wednesday 23 March. At the same time, steel work has started on the other cruise ferry.

Fjord Line has ordered two new cruise ferries from Bergen Group Fosen for delivery in April and November next year. It is Bergen Group's Polish partner, Stocznia Gdansk, that has the job of cutting and welding the 7,000 tons of steel that go into constructing the hull of each ship. Work on the first ship began in late October last year and after five months, the laying of the keel could be celebrated.

"Laying the keel" in modern times has a more symbolic than practical significance since the keel of modern ships is no longer laid in the traditional way. Yet this term is still used for the procedure that indicates that the vessel is now taking shape. Fjord Line's CEO, Ingvald Fardal, had the honor of placing a coin in the first keel block that was cast in the bottom of the hull. This traditional act is meant to bring the ship good fortune and prosperous sailings.

"It is very satisfying to have come so far in the building of the first ship. When the hull is completed it will be launched and towed from Gdansk to Bergen Group Fosen. Here, all assembly, interior fitting and finishing work will be completed," says Ingvald Fardal. The towing trip is planned for the end of August.

CEO Ingvald Fardal was joined by the Board of Directors of Fjord Line and the management of Bergen Group Fosen at the ceremony at Stocznia Gdansk. They also had the opportunity to witness the start of steel work on the second cruise ferry.

"We look forward to offering our guests a whole new cruise experience. The two almost identical ships will combine speed with luxury and pleasure. With the new cruise ferries, we fulfill the dream of daily service between Kristiansand and Hirtshals and between Bergen, Stavanger and Hirtshals," notes Fardal, who adds that the response from the market has been excellent.

Facts about the ferries
Each of the two ships has a deadweight of 3,900 tons and a total length of 170 meters. The cruise ferries will each offer 306 cabins, many of which will be suites, and will accommodate 1,500 passengers. The cargo decks will have capacity for 600 personal vehicles or a smaller number in combination with larger trucks and cargo.

The cruise ferries will offer restaurants, cafés, a duty free shop and well-equipped facilities for courses and conferences. The ships are designed by Bergen Group Ship Design and the Bergen Group Fosen shipyard. Finn Falkum Hansen is the architect for the project. Hansen's previous design work has included two of the ships in the Hurtigruten fleet, MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol.
Source: Fjord Line