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Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 has signed a contract with Fiskerstrand BLRT AS for the design and construction of what is set to become the world's largest gas-fuelled ferry.

Hull construction and initial outfitting will be carried out at the Western Shipyard in Klaipeda, Lithuania, while completion will be at the Fiskerstrand Verft AS shipyard located in the municipality of Sula, 22 kilometres from Aalesund on the northwest coast of Norway.

The vessel is scheduled to be completed by November 30th 2011.

The ferry will be built according to Multi Maritime AS's MM120FD LNG design and will have a total capacity of 242 cars on two decks and 600 passengers.

Vessel specifications have been included below.

Length Overall (LOA) 129.90 metres

Breadth, molded 18.80 metres

Depth, molded main deck 6.45 metres

Depth, molded shelter deck 9.50 metres

Summer draft 4.90 metres

Class: DnV 1A1, CAR FERRY A, GAS FUELLED, CLEAN, RPS, E0, R3 (NOR)

The 1,300 dwt ferry will be equipped with four azimuth thrusters powered by a gas-electric plant consisting of three large Rolls-Royce LNG gas engines and generators. It will have a service speed of approximately 20 knots.

The ferry will mainly operate between Mortavika and Arsvågen on E39 between Bergen and Stavanger, but it will also be used on the other ferry links between Bergen and Stavanger, Halhjem - Sandvikvåg.

It will be the sixth ferry operating on the two ferry links, which are amongst Norway's busiest.

About Fiskerstrand Verft AS

The Fiskerstrand Verft AS shipyard was established in 1909. The yard is located on the northwest coast of Norway, a region with one of the largest maritime clusters in the world, and where a considerable number of companies specializing in ship building and ship equipment are located.

Fiskerstrand Verft AS offers a wide range of different services including maintenance, repair and conversions of vessels, newbuilding and related services. The shipyard encompasses over 30,000 square metres and features a large machine park with production workshops and other buildings, which include:

• 200 metre quayside with rail cranes (60 tonne capacity)

• 120 metre quayside with crane coverage

• Construction berth of 110 metres by 23 metres

• Dry dock facility for vessels up to 150 metres

• Machinery and equipment both mobile and stationary on a large scale for large dimensions

• Modern equipment for troubleshooting, adjustment and checking of machinery without disassembly

Fiskerstrand BLRT AS is a 50/50 joint venture collaboration between Western Shipyard and Fiskerstrand Verft AS, which was set up in 2007.

The two shipyards had been working closely together on other projects for approximately five years before the joint venture was established three years ago.