New cat crew boat from Incat Crowther

The Sydney-based naval architect firm has again worked with Topaz Marine to develop a 24 hour version of the innovative crew boat. The new vessel shares the same hull configuration, as well as the aft cargo deck and forward loading arrangement but differs from the earlier design by having a full width superstructure allowing greater accommodation space. Together with increased full capacity of 39 passengers and eight crew, this allows the vessel to operate uninterrupted over a 24 hour service pattern.

The accommodation-friendly vessel adds a bathroom to each of the two hull crew cabins. There is also an additional officer’s cabin on the main deck. The entire wheelhouse module, including aft control stations, is common to both designs.

As with the earlier vessel, the 24 hour boat will be fitted with a FFS 250x350HD FiFi and foredeck mounted fire monitor as well as a Sormec M18/FB/4S deck crane. The aft deck has over 50m2 of usable deck space, forward of which is a protected passenger boarding area.

The vessel will again be powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 Acert engines, each producing 1,193kW at 2,100rpm and driving a Hamilton HM651 waterjet to give a service speed of 28 knots. This will give the operator commonality between the two different vessels, streamlining maintenance operations and parts inventory.

Incat Crowther has forged a strong relationship with Topaz Marine, which in addition to these wave piercing crew boats, has seen the launch of five 35m monohull crewboats.