New ferries for Christmas

Sunferries in Townville, Queensland, Australia, has ordered two new 300 passenger capacity, fast cat ferries capable of travelling at 28 knots to operate their route across Cleveland Bay to Magnetic Island. The combined cost of the ferries is $6.3 million.

And will be built by Brisbane Ship Building and were designed by One2Three naval architects. Delivery is slated by Christmas.

The newbuildings will be longer and narrower than the present vessels which will be sold off except for the reef cat which will remain. Apart from reducing the present 25 minute trip to about 17 minutes, the ferries will be easier to berth at Nelly Bay where, due to the design of the terminal, the vessels have to either swing around to tie up or swing around to depart. They will certainly be more responsive to manoeuver and, with the new luggage systems, will be a lot quicker to unload and load.