Austal launches Turkish ferry

The first of two Auto Express 88 fast car ferries ?Osman Gazi? was launched at the Austal shipyard. The 88 metre aluminium catamaran is the ninth fast ferry Austal has built for Istanbul Deniz Otobusleri (IDO).

The new ferries are designated to operate on a 39 nautical mile reciprocal service across the Marmara Sea between Yenikapi (Istanbul) and a new port development in Mudanya servicing the city of Bursa. ?Osman Gazi? is scheduled to enter service in April 2007, the same month the second ferry will be launched.

The ferries have a carrying capacity of 1,200 passengers and 225 cars and will be capable of an operational speed of 36 knots when loaded. The catamaran?s propulsion consists of four MTU 20 cylinder 8000 series diesel engines driving a Lips propulsion system through four Reintjes gearboxes.