ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY
There are three bow thrusters for
mated profile cutting line worth approx-
The ships are being built and designed in
each ship, yielding a total power of nine
imately two million euros was installed
parallel, partly at the same time.
megawatts.
in the Parts Fabrication department
Both ships are equipped with four
of Rauma shipyard. Since then, it has
main engines, with a total propulsion pow-
NEW INVESTMENTS
been utilised in the construction work
er of 30,400 kW (kilowatts). The ships will
Mr. Uusitalo mentions that the two ves-
of the second vessel of the P&O Ferries
become the largest car & passenger fer-
sels are being constructed by 500 profes-
project. The aim of this large-scale cut-
ries utilised on cross-Channel routes, with
sionals, 300 of whom are on STX’s payroll.
ting line investment is to enhance qual-
an overall hull length of 213 metres each.
The largest subcontractor is the Helsinki-
ity, productivity and occupational safety.
STX Europe is a leading designer and
based Merima Oy who is in charge of deck
According to Mr. Uusitalo, the employ-
construction.
ment situation at Rauma shipyard looks
builder of passenger and car ferries. Of the
20 largest ferries in the world, twelve have
been built by STX Europe.
“A number of blocks of the ships
good. The order of a research vessel re-
have been built by STX’s Turku shipyard,
ceived by STX Finland to be built for the
“Before this, STX has constructed a
whereas a couple of blocks were pur-
South African Ministry of the Environment
number of other kinds of Channel ferries.
chased from Poland. The blocks have been
will employ the Rauma shipyard even af-
Some of them are equipped with some-
transferred to Rauma shipyard by utilising
ter the P&O Ferries order has been com-
what similar types of docking structures.”
the M/V Aura transport vessel, or with the
pleted. ■
“For the P&O Ferries’ vessels, one of
aid of barges from the Turku shipyard,”
the special features is the high power of
the bow propellers,” Uusitalo points out.
34
seatec 2/2010
notes Uusitalo.
In the autumn of 2009, an auto-
MERJA KIHL
ARI MONONEN