Design contract for 20m catamaran ferry

The ferry design was commissioned by the Commonwealth Government of Australia, after a competitive tender process. The ship is due to be delivered in the second quarter of 2012.

The vessel will be powered by a pair of Cummins QSM11 main engines, each rated at 610 hp at 2300 rpm. Power is transmitted via ZF360 gearboxes to a pair of Hamilton HM422 Waterjets. A cruising speed of 22 knots will be achieved at 85% MCR, with a top speed of 24 knots. Water jet propulsion was selected to meet the draft requirement of the operation. Service speed will be 20 knots.

The design has been optimised for the transit between the Cocos Keeling islands, which are located in the Indian Ocean. The remote location calls for reliability, ruggedness and ease of maintenance.

The vessel’s air conditioned main deck cabin has seating for 70 passengers in forward-facing seats. Aft of the main passenger cabin are a pair of toilets, one of which is wheelchair accessible. The aft deck features a cargo area for transferring supplies and luggage between the islands. This cargo space has a capacity of 2t, with a deck load capacity of 1t/m². A wide boarding zone facilitates transfer for passengers and freight. Located in the aft deck area is a pair of large engine maintenance and machinery removal hatches. From the aft deck, stairs lead up to roof deck, where there are seats for a further 24 passengers. Forward of this is a half height wheelhouse which affords 360° visibility from the central helm position.