Aker Yards ASA Aker Yards and P&O Ferries have signed a letter of intent for building two large car-passenger ferries. The total contract price for both vessels would be approximately EUR 360 million. The vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011 respectively, would be of crucial importance for the Finnish maritime industries.

The intention is to build the vessels in Aker Yards, Rauma, where they would create some 1,800 manyears of work.

Becoming the largest ferry in the English Channel means a 49,000 GT vessel with the length of 210 metres, taking 1,500 passengers and having 2,700 lane metres of vehicle space.

"We are glad to have P&O Ferries as our customer. The company is an esteemed operator on the English Channel vehicle and passenger traffic". says Juha Heikinheimo, President of Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries. "When the contract is finalised, it will be of crucial importance for the whole Finnish maritime cluster", he continues.

P&O Ferries is a new customer to Aker Yards, but they are operating four vessels built by the company, so they have already solid experience of our products.

Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries, consisting of three yards in Finland and two in France, has today a total of 13 passenger vessels in the orderbook, 6 of which are ferries. As one of the world's two largest cruise ship builders and the leading ferry builder, the company has for years set new standards in vessel design, size, and comfort, both in the cruise industry and the ferry transportation market.



More information: Torbjorn Andersen, SVP, Communications & IR, Aker Yards ASA, phone +47 928 85542 Juha Heikinheimo, President, Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries, phone +358 10 670 2201 Sinikka Railo, VP, Communications, Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries, phone +358 40 512 0253

Aker Yards ASA (www.akeryards.com) is an international shipbuilding group focusing on sophisticated vessels. The group has a strong position both in terms of innovation, product range, technology, experience and capacity. The product range includes cruise vessels & ferries, merchant vessels, offshore & specialized vessels. Aker Yards comprises 18 yards in Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Romania, Ukraine and Vietnam with approximately 21,000 employees.

Aker Yards has agreed to take the Russian investment company FLC West in as a partner and 70 percent owner in the three yards in Germany and Ukraine with effect from 1 July, 2008.

Aker Yards, Cruise & Ferries business area comprises three shipyards and two cabin factories in Finland, two shipyards, a cabin factory and a design company in France, and life cycle service activities in Finland, France and the USA. With a focus on innovative design and powerful cruise experiences, Aker Yards is the world's leading cruise ship builder.

Aker Yards ASA

http://www.akeryards.com

ISIN: NO0010222995

Stock Identifier: XOSL.AKY

ABN Newswire
ABN Newswire This Page Viewed:  (Last 30 Days: 5) (Since Published: 735)