we’re expecting to float her out on 17
February,” Uusitalo says in early January.
At the time, about half of the hull below
the waterline has been painted. All and
all, there are 600 people hard at work on
the vessel.
“All blocks are now OK’d for lifting
and we’re looking to lift the last block –
which is the chimney – during Week Four.”
All through spring and early summer
the construction should keep advancing
rapidly, until the ferry is ready for its sea
trials, scheduled for the first week of July. The date for delivery is already marked
down in Uusitalo’s calendar: 1 September.
Despite the hectic schedule, Uusitalo is confident that the shipyard will make
the autumn deadline. Since France is the
shipyard about three weeks in advance.
VIVE LA FRANCE!
second ship of a series, it is much easier
This, in turn, required some creative ac-
While Spirit of Britain is now gone, Uusi-
to build – everybody already ۛ