The 78.4 m long x 14.8 m ferries will each have a capacity of 2,000 passengers and a minimum design speed of 18 knots, and will be used to expand the transport capacity on the Rio de Janeiro – Niterói route in preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. More than 100,000 passengers are transported on this shipping route every day.
For each of the seven ferries, Bakker-Sliedrecht will supply the 690V AC twin main switchboard linked by a cable tie; two auxiliary switchboards for the thruster drive system; two thruster drive systems, suitable for two motors per drive system; and four electromotors delivering 700 kW each. The drive systems will be commissioned at the shipyard in China.
In March, Chinese Afai Southern Shipyard signed the contract with the Governor of the State of Rio Janeiro Sérgio Cabral after winning an international public bidding project including competitors from other 22 countries.
