First Ro-Pax for Polish Shipowner at Sea Trials

Today, September 15, in the early morning hours, the Ro-Pax ferry (NB101) being built by Remontowa Shiprepair Yard S.A. from the Remontowa Holding capital group for a Polish shipowner, departed for its first sea trials.

At the end of August, the ferry was painted in the colors of POLSCA Baltic Ferries. Over the following days, intensive preparations continued for the vessel’s departure for sea trials.

According to the shipyard, the trials are expected to last two weeks.

“At sea, we test, among other things, the operation of the propulsion under full load and conduct its final calibration. We test safety systems and navigation and communication equipment, which we also finally calibrate,” informs Bartosz Znyk, director of the Ro-Pax ferry construction project.

He adds that speed and maneuvering trials are also conducted, and noise and vibration levels are measured.

Before launching the sea trial program, the NB101 ferry underwent quayside trials from last autumn. These are scheduled to conclude in September, while from early October this year, SRTP (Safe Return To Port) procedure trials will begin.

The sea trial program presents a certain challenge.

“We coordinate and calibrate equipment from many different manufacturers according to specified design parameters. Despite detailed design data, the final calibration and design-compliant cooperation of equipment from different suppliers represents the greatest challenge during the commissioning of a prototype vessel from the Ro-Pax ferry series,” explains Bartosz Znyk.

As the shipyard representative emphasizes, Remontowa employees, with appropriate experience in building and converting similar vessels, report in advance to equipment manufacturers the supplements necessary within their supply packages.

“Equipment deliveries are one thing, but properly prepared control software for this equipment and maintaining the required final functionality is another. Particularly in this latter area, the shipyard uses solutions that have been successfully implemented so far,” says director Znyk, pointing to the shipyard’s experience gained, among others, during previously realized ferry conversion projects involving conversion to LNG fuel supply.

The Ro-Pax ferries being built in Gdansk (NB102 is in an advanced construction phase) are among the most modern vessels of this type in the Baltic Sea, powered by four liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines with battery assistance in a hybrid system. Instead of conventional propeller screws, each ferry will be equipped with two azimuth thrusters at the stern and two bow thrusters at the bow, which will greatly improve maneuvering in ports.

Each ferry will be 195.6 m long and 32.2 m wide. The cargo line length is 4,100 m, and the maximum speed will be 19 knots. The ferry will be able to carry 400 passengers, and the crew will number 50 people.

According to initial assumptions, two ferries were to sail under the Unity Line colors, a subsidiary of PŻM, and one under the colors of Polish Baltic Shipping. Ultimately, the ordering party decided that the first ferry, with the future name Jantar Unity, would be painted in POLSCA Baltic Ferries colors.