Fourth Wave Piercing Catamaran for Acciona Trasmediterránea
Leading high speed ship builder Incat Tasmania is pleased to announce it has secured a contract to provide a new fast ferry for one of Spain’s largest shipping companies, Acciona Trasmediterránea.
When delivered in August, the new 98 metre vessel (Incat hull number 062) will become the fourth Incat craft to enter service for Trasmediterránea, joining near sisters Milenium Dos (hull 058), Milenium (hull 056) and Alborán (hull 052).
Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said Acciona Trasmediterránea’s return to Incat for another high speed craft was confirmation of Incat’s determination to build on a history of selling multiple numbers of vessels to a growing list of customers.
“The contract is an endorsement of the excellent business relationship between our two companies, both through the past deliveries of Wave Piercing Catamarans and also the superior performance they have displayed against other high speed craft in the region,” Mr Clifford said.
Incat will now embark on an aggressive recruitment campaign to increase the workforce. The Tasmanian Government’s Department of Economic Development is working closely with the company to support the growth and have been supporters of this new order for Europe and towards the order by a Japanese customer for a new 112m vessel for delivery in 2007.
Incat Europe Managing Director Leith Thompson expressed his pleasure at seeing the return of Acciona Trasmediterránea to the shipyard with follow-on orders based on their high level of satisfaction with the Incat product.
“This contract illustrates Acciona Trasmediterránea’s preference for proven high quality tonnage from a builder unrivalled in the field of dedicated high speed ship construction and after sales support,” he said.
On the Spanishmainland-BalearicIslands links, the 96 metre Milenium and the 98 metre Milenium Dos have both been operating successfully since 2000 and 2003 respectively. On the Straits of Gibraltar’s busy Algeciras – Ceuta crossing the Alborán operates in an area of intense competition. The crossing is covered almost entirely by fast ferries and high frequency is the order of the day. In this challenging arena the Incat vessel has proved a resounding success with a high reputation as being the most punctual fast ferry on the Strait.
Specification
Built : Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd, 2006
LOA (Length): 97.22 metres
Beam: 26.60 metres
Draft: 3.43 metres loaded
Deadweight: 725 tonnes approx
Persons: Up to 900
Vehicle deck: 267 cars or 380 truck lane metres plus 85 cars, or a combination of both.
Speed – max: 48 knots @ 100% mcr.
Certification: DNV X1A1 HSLC R1 Car Ferry “B” EO Certificate.
DNV Speed / Wave Height Parameters
50 knots: 0.0 – 2.0 SWH
45 knots: 2.0 – 2.5 SWH
40 knots: 2.5 – 3.0 SWH
35 knots: 3.5 – 4.0 SWH
32 knots: 4.0 – 4.5 SWH
30 knots: 4.5 – 5.0 SWH
Seek Shelter 5.0 + SWH
