Damen Shipyards Group has sold a Fast Ferry 4212 to South Korean ferry operator DAEA Express Shipping. The vessel, named Sea Flower, is the fourth ferry of this design that Damen has sold in the last five years to companies operating on the east coast of the Korean peninsula.
With the contract for construction between Damen and DAEA signed in January 2016, Sea Flower was handed over on 22 April during a ceremony in the vessel’s home port of Hupo.
The ceremony was attended by a large delegation of local and regional officials as well as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Netherlands Embassy in South Korea, Ruth Emmerink.
After the traditional ribbon cutting, the 42m vessel set sail on her maiden voyage to Ulleungdo, one of South Korea’s easternmost territories and also a very popular tourist destination. “We are proud to see this vessel, with her capacity of 450 passengers, contribute to the safe, reliable and comfortable transport to and from the island of Ulleungdo. This will have a positive boost on the local tourist sector,” says Damen Sales Manager Asia Pacific Michiel Hendrikx.
Meeting DAEA’s strict schedule for the completion of the contract to ensure commencement of operations on the Hupo-Ulleungdo route in time for the start of the tourist season, Damen completed the vessel on time. “This type of ferry is part of our speculative building programme, the benefits of which are seen when working to such tight deadlines.”
