A high-speed gathering

Among the fast ferry builders exhibiting was Italy`s De Poli Shipyard. The Venetian yard, which is best known for the construction of conventional ferries and gas and chemical tankers, is preparing for its first foray into the fast ferry market with a 95m long monohull. Isola di Stromboli, which is due to be delivered to Siremar, of the Tirrenia group this spring, will carry 800 passengers and 170 cars at a fully loaded speed of 28 knots.

Another relatively new face on the scene attracting much attention was Canada`s Catamaran Ferries International (CFI). The British Columbia-based yard eventually made its entrance onto the fast ferry stage last year with the PacifiCat, the first of three 122m fast passenger/vehicle catamarans for British Columbia Ferry Corporation, CFI`s parent company. The ambitious PacifiCat project began in 1994 and BC Ferries originally announced, rather unrealistically, that the first vessel would enter service in late 1996. Following the delays which have been attributed to ?design, engineering and logistical issues`, the vessel was finally launched last year and has been much applauded.

CFI says that it is concentrating on a new generation of 95m and 109m wavepiercing models. It is working in conjunction with InCat Designs Sydney, with which it worked on the PacifiCat, to develop wavepiercing fast freighters.