A ro-pax ship, commissioned by the French "SNC Navale STEF - TFE" company, was launched in the Split shipyard of Brodosplit on Wednesday. With a price exceeding HRK 1 billion, the vessel, intended for the transport of passengers, cargo and personal vehicles and vehicles with hazardous cargo, is the most expensive ship built so far in Croatian shipyards.
The 180-metre-long ship can carry 750 passengers, 200 personal cars and 230 cargo vehicles. Its four engines with the total power of 38,400 kW can develop a speed of up to 24 knots.
The ship, to operate the service between Marseille and Bastia on Corsica, will be delivered to the French client in mid-2011.
The Brodosplit company's CEO, Srdjan Kovac, said the ship was proof of the know-how and competence of the shipyard's workers.
The vessel was built without state aid.
The French company's owner, Robert de Lambilly, told reporters that he was very satisfied with the deal with the Split shipyard.
The Split shipyard had offered a better tender than French shipyards and therefore we opted for it, de Lambilly said.
In attendance at today's ceremony was also French Ambassador to Croatia Jerome Pasquier.
