(SPOT.ph) A massive high-speed aluminum ferry—the biggest of its kind ever to be made in the Philippines—has left Balamban, Cebu and is now on its way to its new home in Denmark. Fjord FSTR started its journey on March 5 from the Philippine shipyard of Australian-based shipbuilder Austal. It's no secret that we Filipinos know a thing or two about making boats, but it's safe to say we reached new heights with this one.
Here's What You Should Know About the Massive FSTR of Austal Philippines
The FSTR is a vehicle-passenger ferry commissioned by Danish shipping company Fjord Line. It is a high-speed catamaran (read: two hulls) ferry that measures 109 meters and can reach speeds of up to 40 knots. Convert those numbers and the FSTR is like a 33-storey building—but lying down—moving as fast as 75 kilometers an hour. Plus, it can carry 1,200 passengers and 404 cars, holding up to a maximum weight of 1,019 tonnes. And yup, this ginormous ferry was made in the Philippines!
Not only is it the largest aluminum vessel constructed in the country, it is also the largest ferry in terms of volume ever constructed at an Austal shipyard worldwide, according to a statement from the company. And those are not the only firsts courtesy of the FSTR. It will also be the "first wholly constructed ship in the Philippines to carry passengers and cargoes in Denmark," noted Philippine Ambassador to Denmark Leo Herrera-Lim in an ABS-CBN report.
"It’s impressive to see a large high-speed ferry like this delivered in the best of times, but for the team to deliver this new vessel during a global pandemic is simply outstanding," said Austal Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg in the statement, bringing the focus to the extra challenges the team must have had to overcome to deliver FSTR.
Plus, FSTR definitely won't be the last Philippine-made ferry of its scale to be made in the Balamban shipyard. The team is now preparing to build two even more massive ferries, a 118-meter trimaran and a 115-meter catamaran, noted country head Wayne Murray. Looks like we'll be seeing more of these ferries from the Cebu shipyard!
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Source: Spot PH
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