Order for three small catamaran ferries

Two 32m ferries and one 24m ferry have been ordered by operator Riverside Marine to run between Gladstone, Queensland and the new plant on Curtis Island.

The 32m vessels are being built at Brisbane Ship Constructions and will be configured to carry 399 personnel, with a layout that allows conversion to a more spacious cabin layout in its second life, making it suitable for longer duration transfers and tours. The ferries will be powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 main engines, each rated at 970kW at 2,100rpm. Power is transmitted via ZF3050 gearboxes to a pair of five-bladed propellers. The vessels will have service speed of 25 knots at 85% MCR.

Construction is underway at Marine Engineering Consultants on the 24m vessel, which is similar to the Fantasea Sunrise, delivered earlier this year. The smaller size allows reduced operating costs when passenger numbers fluctuate. The vessel is a high-capacity variant of the Fantasea Suirise, and could be converted to operate on any of Riverside Marine’s routes on the Great Barrier Reef and in Sydney. This vessel will have seats for 180 passengers in the main deck cabin and 46 passengers in the upper deck cabin, with an additional 20 outdoor passenger seats. It will be powered by a pair of Yanmar 6AYM-WET main engines each producing 610kW at 1,900rpm, giving the vessel a service speed of 25 knots at 85% MCR.

The three vessels are due to be delivered throughout 2012.