Papenburg, 10.04.2003 - Yesterday, the first of 24 big blocks of the new passenger and car ferry Pont-Aven (39.300 gt) for the French operator Brittany Ferries was lifted into position in the covered building dock of MEYER WERFT shipyard in Papenburg/Germany. Bernard Meyer, managing partner of the shipyard witnessed when Michel Maraval, managing director of Brittany Ferries laid the "lucky penny" before the yard´s 600-ton crane lowered the first block of the new ship onto the keel blocks in the building dock. Pont-Aven will have an overall length of 185 metres. The sailing speed will be over 26 knots. A maximum of 2,200 passengers will be accommodated in 650 cabins. The ship will be delivered in spring 2004.