Drotten | DFDS / Destination Gotland

Design and Delivery

DROTTEN is the second of two fast-Ro-Pax sister-ships built in China for Rederi AB Gotland for operation by its subsidiary Destination Gotland. She was delivered in October 2003 as GOTLAND by Guangzhou Shipyard (GSI) to a design by Knud E. Hansen.

Both ships had been heavily delayed, with delivery having originally been contracted for 2001 delivery((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Nov). Visby. Cruise and Ferry Info, (Nov 2003).)). However, the contract price was just US$51.7m (SEK 550m) each, reportedly much lower than the cost for an equivalent vessel from a European yard.

Swedish Service

The 2003-built ships replaced older and slower tonnage on routes from the main town on Gotland, Visby, to the Swedish mainland ports of Oskarshamn and Nynäshamn. Their introduction also considerably reduced the crossing time on both routes.

In late-2014, Rederi AB Gotland placed an order for the first of two of larger fast-Ro-Pax ferries. Designed to replace GOTLAND and VISBY in year-round service, these larger ferries would also be more efficient and powered by LNG rather than diesel. Their arrival in 2019 and 2020 meant that the now renamed DROTTEN and her sister were surplus to requirements for much of the year. Destination Gotland requires only a maximum of three large ships for the summer peak. This allowed both ships to be chartered to DFDS.

Renaming

During February 2020, GOTLAND was renamed DROTTEN ahead of the official naming ceremony of the first of the two new ships, THJELVAR, which became the new GOTLAND (8). The renaming occurred because GOTLAND and VISBY are the traditional names for the main ships on Destination Gotland’s routes.

Incidents

On Thursday July 23, 2009, GOTLAND collided with fleet-mate HSC GOTLANDIA II outside Nynäshamn in heavy fog. Some 1,338 passengers were onboard GOTLAND and 579 onboard GOTLANDIA II. Five people were seriously injured and at least ten sustained minor injuries according to a Reuters report at the time. Following the incident, the master of GOTLANDIA II was charged with negligence and put on trial.

DFDS charter

During January 2021, it was confirmed that DROTTEN would be joining her sister-ship on charter to DFDS for the “Brexit Buster” Dunkerque to Rosslare service. This route had been started at short notice on January 2, and was announced just over a month before the UK fully left the European Union.

DROTTEN replaced DFDS’s own vessel OPTIMA SEAWAYS on the route in late-January 2021 with the latter having spent less than a month on the Ireland – France route. OPTIMA SEAWAYS had always been intended to be a short-term deployment, and was required back on her usual Baltic Sea route.

Freight-only

The choice of VISBY and DROTTEN to operate such a lengthy route surprised many. Destination Gotland only operates domestic Swedish routes, and so their bespoke ships have no need for large shops or extensive onboard services.

While VISBY and DROTTEN are suitable for a freight-only route, DFDS has not ruled out accepting passengers on Rosslare – Dunkirk at a later date. It would seem likely that DFDS would replace the vessels with ships with more extensive passenger facilities should a passenger service be offered, however.

Like VISBY, DROTTEN is supplied to DFDS with her Swedish deck and engine crew, while the onboard services crew is supplied by DFDS. Unlike her sister, which is chartered utill May 2021, DROTTEN has been chartered by DFDS for a period of three months.

Rosslare Europort welcomes the latest vessel to our port. The @DFDS vessel MV Drotten arrived today to replace the MV Optima Seaways on the Rosslare to Dunkirk service. This further increases capacity for the freight industry to the continent. #staysafe #sailsafe #saildirect 🛳🛳 pic.twitter.com/ASNYowcmHY

— Rosslare Europort (@Rosslareuroport) January 28, 2021

While designed to sail at 28.5 knots, the DFDS timetable allows 24 hours to complete the crossing between Ireland and France. This allows DROTTEN and VISBY to usually sail at considerably less than their design speed. That said, the vessels have been noted making use of their speed on delayed sailings

Vehicle access issues

Another quirk of the design of DROTTEN and VISBY is their vehicle access arrangements. Neither ship is fitted with any internal ramps. Consequently, access to the upper vehicle deck is only accessible via a port-side door forward or stern ramps on either side of the main deck ramp.

This access arrangements of the ships has caused issues on the Dunkerque – Rosslare route with both ships only able to operate as stern-loaders. Due to ramp incompatibility((Hotloff, P. (Ed.). (2021, Jan). Ro-Ro News. Cruise and Ferry Info, (January 2021).)) only one of the ramps to the upper vehicle deck can be deployed at Rosslare. In both ports, vehicles are required to either turn onboard the ship or reverse on.

First Crossing to Ireland

DROTTEN joined her sister on the Rosslare route in place of OPTIMA SEAWAYS from Wednesday January 29. Her maiden sailing to Rosslare scheduled for 10am local time was delayed by around 3.5 hours. DROTTEN had arrived at Dunkerque from Sweden on the morning of January 25. OPTIMA SEAWAYS also left Dunkerque on January 29, returning to her usual Klaipeda Karlshamn route.

At least initially, the route is for freight-only and aimed at hauliers wishing to avoid additional paperwork to re-enter the European Union. The first month also benefited from non-U.K. living drivers on routes from Ireland not requiring a Covid-19 test. However, from 27 January a test was required for all Irish traffic entering France too.

Sister act today in Rosslare Europort! As @DFDS MV Visby and MV Drotten docked in Rosslare from @DunkerquePort. DFDS have six sailings a week from Rosslare Europort to the Continent 🛳🛳🛳 #staysafe #sailsafe #saildirect pic.twitter.com/5YF75Rdj9Z

— Rosslare Europort (@Rosslareuroport) January 29, 2021

At the time of writing, it looks likely that DROTTEN will return to service with Destination Gotland on March 31. This will allow Destination Gotland to fulfil their contractual frequency as required by their public concession.

Passenger facilities onboard Drotten

Unlike a typical Ireland – France Ro-Pax or cruise ferry, DROTTEN is very much orientated towards a short high-density domestic passenger service,. That said, she does have 92 passenger cabins available on Deck 8. As a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, DFDS has a one driver per cabin policy on the Rosslare route.

Onboard Facilities

• Food market restauarant
• Bistro
• Shop
• Three Children’s Play Area’s
• A variety of different lounge spaces providing a total of 1,500 seats
  (Forward lounge, Economy lounge, Food Market lounge, and Aft lounge)
• Outside “sun deck”
• Passenger Cabins

Visby / Drotten Deck Plans

Deck 7

The public accommodation of DROTTEN is on Deck 7. This is designed around her intended routes to Gotland which have a crossing time of around three hours, and consists mainly of lounge space and “airline” seating.

Deck 8

Deck 8 is the passenger cabin deck and also houses a conference room. Destination Gotland refers to the cabins as “Day Cabins“. The “sun deck” is also located on Deck 8. This includes a sheltered area aft for smokers.

The navigation bridge and crew accommodation are situated on Deck 9.

Interior Gallery

A small selection of photographs taken onboard VISBY by Gary Andrews during 2019 follows. DROTTEN is virtually identical inside to her sister.

Drotten Technical Data

	Drotten
IMO Number	9223796((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Callsign	SGPI((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Class	SF1500 fast Ro-Pax ferry
Building Yard	Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, China
Hull Number	#9130005((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Naval Architect	Knud E. Hansen, Denmark((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).))
Interior designer and architect	Klaus P. Horn, Denmark((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).))
Contract Date	24.06.1999((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Keel Laid	#9130005((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Completion / Delivery
Hull Number	#9130005
Certification	Lloyds Register of Shipping (on delivery) DNV-GL (since September 2005)((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].)) Type: 410 Car Ferry
Additional Class Notations	1A1 Car ferry A BIS E0 Ice(1A) TMON((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Owner	Rederi AB Gotland((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Current Operator	DFDS
Vessel Management	Destination Gotland AB((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
In service (Destination Gotland)	01.12.2003 (Visby - Nynäshamn / Oskarshamn
Usual Route	Dunkerque [FR] - Rosslare [IE]
Length Overall	195.8 m((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Length B.P.	176 m((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Beam	25.00 m((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Draught	6.413 m((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].)) (design)
Gross Tonnage	29,746((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Deadweight	4,730((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].))
Number of Decks	10
Machinery	4 x Wärtsilä 12v 46c marine Diesel engines, each outputting 12,600 kw at 500rpm((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2010).)). Each pair of engines turns one of two KaMeWa propellers through a Flender reduction gearbox at 150 rpm 3 x Wärtsilä 9L20((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].)) auxiliary engines 2 x 1,800 kW shaft generators((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2010).)) 2 x Kamewa TT2400 cp((Vesselregister.dnvgl.com. 2020. DNV GL Vessel Register. [online] Available at: <https://vesselregister.dnvgl.com/vesselregister/vesselregister.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021].)) 1,700 kW transverse tunnel bow thrusters
Exhaust Gas Emissions Reduction	Siemens Sinox SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) (maximum emission of 2g NOx/kWH) (gotlandsbolaget.se. 2020. M/S Visby. [online] Available at: <https://gotlandsbolaget.se/en/publikationer/ms-visby/> [Accessed 27 January 2021].))
Power (Max)	50,400 kW (68,525 BHP)((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).))
Design Speed	28.5 knots((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).))
Fuel Consumption	200t/24h at design speed (730 cst)((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).))
Stabilisers	Rolls-Royce fin stabilisers((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).))
Access Equipment	TTS((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).))
Passenger Capacity	1500
Crew	–
Passenger Cabins	80 x two-berth outside cabins((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).)) 39 x four-berth inside cabins((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).)) (The above figures are as-built. According to Destination Gotland, there are presently only 112 passenger cabins available. DFDS states that there are only 92 passenger cabins.)
Vehicle capacity	1,800 lane metres of freight or 520 passenger cars or a mix of both
Lane Metre Breakdown	Upper vehicle deck: 900 lane metres / 270 cars (4.85m free height)((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).)) Main vehicle deck: 900 lane metres / 250 cars (4.85m free height)((Brogren, K. (Ed.). (2003, Sept). Visby. DESIGNS 03, (Sept 2003).))
Vehicle access	Access through the stern at a single level using fixed ramps to the upper vehicle deck Twin level bow access via a clamshell-type bow door and ramp to the main deck, and a side door leading to the upper deck.
Flag state (port)	Sweden (VISBY)
As-built sister-ships	Visby

Further Reading

There is a detailed feature on VISBY in Shippax Guide 04 in which she is the theme vessel.