Incat launches high-speed RoPax catamaran

The vessel will be the largest high-speed catamaran in the Mediterranean when it enters service. It is due to begin sea trials in January 2019.

The catamaran is powered by four 9,100-kW 20-cylinder Series 8000 MTU 58000M71L engines. Besides the four 9,100-kW engines, MTU also supplied four 8V 2000 M51A gensets. It is fitted with four ZF60000 gearboxes, with reduction ratio suited for optimum jet shaft speed.

Virtu Ferries’ 110m long ferry is fitted with four modular Wärtsilä LJX 1500SR waterjets to boost its performance. The vessel has a speed of around 38 knots. It has been earmarked for the Sicily-Malta route, which it will be able to complete in 90 minutes.

The catamaran has space to accommodate 900 passengers as well as 167 vehicles on 490 lane metres. The RoPax will increase capacity for trucks by 43%, passengers by 15% and for cars by 7% compared with the existing vessel serving the route.

The vessel is fitted with a 100-amp 415V 3-phase shore connection, which will help to reduce emissions while in port. The vessel’s engines are compliant with the IMO’s Tier 2 NOx limits.

The design was modelled by Australia-based ship designers Revolution Design and then tank tested and optimised at QinetiQ in the UK.