Shipbuilders in Finland have announced that the launch of the ‘Spirit of France,’ sister ship to the ‘Spirit of Britain,’ took place on the 17th February 2011.

The announcement would suggest that STX Rauma, the shipyard constructing the new vessel, is on target to deliver the Spirit of France to P&O Ferries in October.

In January, STX Rauma completed work on the Spirit of Britain – the largest passenger ferry to sail on the English Channel. Like its sister ship, the Spirit of France is set to dominate the seas, providing space for 195 cars and 180 lorries simultaneously.

The Spirit of France will also accommodate around 2,000 passengers, with luxurious cabins available for many travellers alongside a cinema, games room, showers and so on.

Timo Suistio, the director of STX Rauma, said: “The construction of the Spirit of France continues as planned and at a rapid pace. Sea trials are scheduled for June and the vessel will be handed over to the client in October.”

Mr Suistio added: “At the moment, Rauma shipyard has two special vessels under construction: an arctic multipurpose vessel and a fisheries research vessel. We have proved our expertise as builders of both demanding car and passenger ferries and technically challenging special vessels.”

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