With its engines and main systems already on board, the ferry will undergo further outfitting in the coming months, including adding the superstructure, with the final launch planned for 2025.
This vessel, commissioned by Polskie Promy as part of the Batory program, marks a resurgence for the Polish maritime industry, according to officials.
Powered by four dual-fuel LNG engines with supplemental battery power, the ferry has an environmentally preferable profile. Its LNG propulsion will reduce CO2 emissions by about 25 percent compared to existing vessels of its kind.
Enhanced port maneuverability will come from the stern's azimuth thrusters and the bow thrusters.
In 2021, the Remontowa Shipbuilding company won the contract to build three ferries for Polskie Promy, a collaboration between the State Treasury and the Polish Steamship Company.
While two ferries will complement the Polish Steamship Company's own fleet, the third is set for the Polish Baltic Shipping Company.
Ro-Pax ferries offer a passenger service combined with a roll-on roll-off vehicular component.
The Batory Program aims to catalyze the development of innovative shipbuilding technology and the construction of advanced marine vessels.
It demonstrates Poland's ambition to advance its maritime capabilities through a multi-pronged strategy: constructing passenger and car ferries tailored for national operators, fostering the development and application of cutting-edge shipbuilding technologies, erecting a state-of-the-art modular offshore platform, and establishing a pioneering "Green Shipyard" initiative.
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Marek Gróbarczyk said: "Launching this Ro-Pax ferry symbolizes the renaissance of Poland's shipbuilding prowess. It showcases our capacity to build vessels that are both modern and innovative, promising pride for Polish shipowners and bolstering our nation's economic growth."
The Batory Program invokes the legacy of a historic Polish ocean liner that entered service in the 1930s and carried passengers until 1969.
(rt/gs)
Source: polskieradio24.pl, pap-mediaroom.pl