?Shinas? arrives in Oman

The Sultanate of Oman?s record-breaking 65 metre vehicle-passenger catamaran ?Shinas? has arrived in Muscat, Oman, following its 15-day journey from Austal?s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. The vessel made the journey under its own power, making scheduled stops at the Cocos Islands and Mal?e in the Maldives.

?Shinas? is the world?s fastest diesel-powered vehicle passenger ferry after achieving a record service speed of 52 knots and a maximum speed of 55.9 knots during sea trials last November. Its recently launched sister vessel ?Hormuz? is scheduled to repeat the delivery voyage later this year.

Once delivered, the two high-speed catamarans will provide a new tourism service to Oman?s spectacular Musandam Peninsular and will be the flagship in the Sultanate of Oman?s expanded marine transport network. As well as having a service speed of over 50 knots, the ferries carry 208 passengers and 56 cars along an intended 180 nautical mile route.