Austal delivers Tahitian cat

Austal recently delivered the 56 metre ferry Aremiti 5 to Tahitian ferry company Aremiti Cruise. Based on the Austal Auto Express 56 catamaran design, the newbuilding is well equipped to handle the demanding requirement of providing a vital ferry service between the French Polynesian islands of Papeete, Morea and Bora Bora.

The new vessel is the fourth ferry in the Aremiti fleet and joins two other Austal-built cruise yachts in Tahitian waters, Tu Moana and Tia Moana which were built for Bora Bora Cruises, a company operated by Mehiti Degage, daughter of Aremiti Cruise owner Eug?ne Degage. Austal?s existing relationship with Bora Bora Cruises was a significant factor in securing the order for the new fast ferry, a vessel for which the customer required a tailored fit-out of a similarly high quality despite its very different role.

With capacity for up to 700 passengers and 30 cars, Aremiti 5 offers a speed of 35 knots at 90% MCR. It is powered by four MTU 16V 4000 M70 diesel engines, each providing a maximum power output of 2,320kW at 2,000rpm. Each engine drives a Kamewa 71 SII water jet through a Reintjes VLJ 930 gearbox.