Dae A Express goes high speed

Dae A Express has commenced operation of a new high speed ferry. The mv Hankyoreh operates services on the Sea of Japan between Mukho City, on the east coast of Korea, and the tourist island of Ollongdo, 110 miles offshore. It also operates a once weekly return service from Sokcho, north of Mukho City, to the North Korean Kepco power station of Korea Energy and Power Station Corporation. The 52m Tricat was built in the Philippines by FBMA Babcock Marine. It carries 449 passengers and is the first vessel built to the High Speed Craft Code to operate in Korea. With its maximum deadweight of passengers and baggage, the Hankyoreh?s four MTU 16V 4000 M70 diesel engines and four Kamewa 63 SII Waterjets can power the vessel to speeds of over 40 knots. Stability is aided by two inverted T-foils fitted forward. Track keeping and steering at speed is enhanced through the fitting of hydraulically powered steering fins aft; the first time such devices have been fitted to an FBM-designed vessel. Such fins are now available across the FBM vessel range. Andrew Bailey, design manager at FBM Babcock Marine, said: “The vessel represented a unique opportunity to further enhance the performance of the TriCat design by utilising state of the art research undertaken since FBM?s acquisition by the Babcock International Group.