Epic Order Two RoPax Vessels

Firm sees expansion in RoPax market in Europe

Epic Shipping UK have announced they have ordered three RoPax vessels to add to their fleet from the Italian shipbuilder
Cantiere Navale Visentini.

The ships will have a cargo capacity of 2300 lane metres for freight and 195 cars. Passenger capacity will be 880 for short voyages and 400 for longer routes. There will be 107 cabins on each vessel for crew and passengers. With a deadweight of 7000 tons the vessels will be 186.5 metres in length with a beam of 25.6 metres.

The vessels will be time chartered and the company has identified and is in discussion with several companies with an interest in chartering the new tonnage.

A spokesman for Epic Shipping said, "This is an exciting move for us. We believe that there is a strong market for these vessels with high quality operators. We have worked in conjunction with the vessel’s architects and with Visentini to ensure that we will take delivery of really first class tonnage.

"EPIC is also very confident that with Meridian Marine as technical managers, the ships will be operated to the very highest standards, building on Meridian’s strong reputation in this sector."

With these three new vessels Epic will have a five-strong RoPax fleet. At present two vessels, the PAU CASALS and BLANCA DEL MER, are on charter to ferry service operators operating between Spain and the Balearic Islands. Both sail under the British flag and technical management is undertaken by Liverpool-based Meridian Marine.

Epic firmly believes the RoPax market in Europe is set to grow very strongly and and that further ownership of additional vessels is a distinct possibility.