New Incat Tasmania cat for South Korea

Work on the new 76 metre catamaran has already begun with delivery scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.

Incat Tasmania chief executive, Tim Burnell, said that the new order was exceptionally good news for the yard. “At Incat we are fortunate to have the best quality, most highly experienced workforce in the global fast ferry industry and we are pleased to add this new vessel to those recently delivered to our customers around the world,” he said.

The high speed ferry will operate for Daezer on the line between Pohang and Ulleung, an island 117 nautical miles off the eastern coast of South Korea where the main economic activity is tourism. It will carry 990 passengers and operate at speeds of up to 45 knots.

Incat Tasmania chair, Robert Clifford, said that Incat is no stranger to South Korean waters having delivered its first vessel to the region in 1995, the Incat hull 037, Sunflower, which served Ulleung island for 25 years and was only recently retired in compliance with South Korean ship age limits.

“This new craft will benefit from Incat’s evolved tried and proven hullform, with its new bow arrangement and will lead the local market in terms of seakeeping for vessels of its size,” said Mr Clifford.

“The 76 metre is expected to be a successful model for the future with the first of this type due for delivery to another South Korean operator, SeaWorld Express Ferries, at the end of March this year,” he added.