Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, part of MHI Group based in Yokohama, held a christening and launch ceremony for the second of two ferries currently under construction for Hankyu Ferry
Yamato will be handed over in June 2020 after rigging work is completed and will serve on the company’s Shinmoji-Kobe route. Its sister vessel Settsu was christened and launched in August 2019.
Yamato and Settsu are both 195 m long, 29.6 m wide, 20.6 m deep, have a draft of 6.7 m and gross tonnage of approximately 16,300 tonnes. The ferries have capacity for 663 passengers, approximately 277 trucks and 188 cars.
Cargo handling facilities consist of two side ramp/doors with another at the stern. MHI said the vessel’s design concept was inspired by the idea of "a relaxing voyage gazing at the stars and sea," and the interiors feature the image of retro buildings at Moji Port in Fukoka, Japan.
The company says a new optimal hull increases energy efficiency by 6% compared to earlier vessels. Yamato is outfitted with a scrubber.
In September 2019, MHI received an order from Shin Nihonkai for two 222.5 m long high speed ferries. Both ferries will be equipped with the same hull as Yamato. The vessels will be built in MHI’s Nagasaki shipyard.
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