Incat Delivers Japanese Catamaran No 2

Natchan World Named During Hobart Celebration
The latest vessel built by Incat has been delivered to her Japanese owner. The second high speed Wave Piercing Catamaran for Higashi Nihon Ferry, the Natchan World will join her sister Natchan Rera, completed by Incat last August, in service across Japan’s Tsugaru Strait between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido.

At nearly 11,000 gross tonnes the new 112 metre long Natchan World is one of the largest vessels yet built by Incat.

Before being handed over by Incat, an impressive two months ahead of schedule, the Natchan World was officially named in a ceremony at the Incat shipyard on Tuesday 8th April.

“This name was chosen because passengers and local residents have already become very familiar with the “Natchan” name carried by the first Incat 112 metre ferry and we wanted to keep the friendliness that “Natchan” has acquired,” said Higashi Nihon Ferry President Mr Shinji Koga.

In Japan, the girl’s name Natsumi is often shortened to Natchan and in Hobart once again to perform the naming ceremony was Natsumi Kawashima, an eight year-old Japanese girl whose grandfather, Mr Mutsuo Kawashima, is a well-known artist of Japanese traditional style painting. Assisted by her father, Mr Wataru Kawashima, himself a Japanese-style painter who is a lecturer at Kyoto City University of Arts, Natsumi proudly named the ship before a crowd of around 1500 spectators including a contingent of fifty Japanese guests who flew in from Japan for the Ceremony.

Like the Natchan Rera before her, the Natchan World’s eye catching livery, is adapted from paintings made by a Japanese child. The colourful design was publicly sought in Japan, with over 500 children under 12 years old responding to the call for the ferry’s colourful “Parade” theme. Mr Toshikazu Yamaoka, an artist living in Kyoto, chose “lovely creatures” and integrated them into the livery.
Mr Koga explains “Throughout the hull, we can feel an unconstrained concept anchored in a child’s unique perspective. Original designs were copied as much as possible to make the most of childlikeness seen in the touch of lines drawn. We can see various companies in the sea beyond the ages and species parading together on a rhythmical music note”.

With Natchan World Incat has reached the pinnacle in high speed craft luxury and comfort, with this its most valuable export to date. Operating at speeds of approximately 40 knots and with capacity for up to 800 persons and 355 cars, or 450 lane metres of trucks and 193 cars, the Natchan World is almost identical to her sister, Natchan Rera.

Some changes have been implemented, including a new form of relaxation for Executive Class passengers which cannot be experienced in any flights, trains or cruise ships. Here, instead of individual seats, there are small booth style compartments for two to four passengers. In each compartment, passengers are free to take off their shoes and lie down. Massage chairs will be installed in the same cabin as well. Families and couples will enjoy not only their time in private with amazing comfort but also the vast scale of ocean view in front of each booth.

Natchan World Principal Particulars
Length overall: 112.60m
Beam (moulded): 30.50m
Draft: approximately 3.93m
Speed: 40 knots
Deadweight: Up to 1450 tonnes
Total persons: 800 persons
Vehicle Deck: 450 truck-lane metres plus 193 cars or 355 cars.
Fuel consumption: 6.84 tonnes (8208 litres) per hour at 40 knots.

INCAT
INCAT