New Aussie cat for Japan

The first Incat 112 metre high speed ferry has been delivered to the Japanese ferry operator Higashi Nihon Ferry. The new Incat 112 metre wave piercing catamaran was specifically designed and built to meet the requirements of Higashi Nihon Ferry and will be able to handle the demanding challenges of providing a vital ferry service between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido.

Commenting on the handover of the craft at Hobart, Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said, “Incat has been leading the way at the cutting edge of high speed ferry design, development and innovation for many years and the completion of Natchan Rera demonstrates the company?s position as a world-leader in the high-speed catamaran market. These vessels are set to revolutionise the Japanese ferry industry. Never before has such a technologically advanced ship operated in the Japanese market. Never before has Incat built such a large ship and for a new customer in an area with such enormous potential for Incat High Speed Craft.”

The order for the Natchan Rera, and a sister to follow next year, is a major part of the on-going Higashi Nihon Ferry business development plan for the expansion of regular passenger services across Tsugaru Strait between the ports of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido and Aomori on the island of Honshu. The new 800 passenger 355 car capacity ropax ferry has a service speed of 40 knots and will approximately halve the time currently taken for voyages between Aomori and Hakodate by the existing ships and greatly enhance the convenience of regular passenger services.

The Chief Executive of Higashi Nihon Ferry, Shinji Koga comments, “We gained confidence in high speed ferries after a research visit to Europe in the autumn of 2005. As a result of our visit, during which we were impressed by the Incat 91 metre ferry sailing with Mols-Linien in Denmark and the 98 metre ferry sailing on the English Channel with Brittany Ferries, we were convinced to introduce a high speed ferry on the route between Hakodate and Aomori.