In 2015 Collectivité de Saint Pierre et Miquelon launched a tender for two new Mixt Ferries to operate between the two Islands and Fortune (Canada). The contract was awarded to the Damen Shipyards Group and, in January 2016, the Loan agreement with Rabobank was signed. The project was launched on 11 March at an event in Paris and the vessels will be delivered at the end of 2017.
In close cooperation with the client, Damen designed the Fast RoPax 5510, which measure 55m by 11m, with a capacity for 192 passengers and crew, three trucks or 18 cars, motorcycles and cargo. Collectivité de Saint Pierre et Miquelon is a new customer for Damen.
They required full redundancy for the vessels; the French islands are situated 25 miles from Fortune. The high speed capability of the RoPax5510 ensures a crossing in a little over one hour.
It is expected that the arrival of the ferries will make the islands much more accessible, encouraging, amongst other things, an increased level of tourism in the region. The sister vessels will be operated by Régie des Transport Maritimes.
