BMT

BMT Nigel Gee (BMT) and Ares Shipyard have delivered the first two boats in a series of eight luxury passenger ferries for Qatar less than seven months after initial discussions on the project.

The first two vessels will be used to transport guests to the new Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa located 11km east of Doha. Based on the composite catamaran design, the 18m long vessel with a beam of 6.7m is capable of carrying up to 51 passengers.

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The new vessel is equipped with business class seating and refreshment facilities in a fully air-conditioned passenger saloon.

The vessel has been designed to reach top speeds of 29k and a service speed of 22k, allowing the journey from Doha to the resort in the region to be completed within 16 minutes.

Ares Shipyard managing director Kerim Kalafatoglu said: “In order to support the opening of the resort, it was important to deliver the first vessel early in 2014.”

“BMT Nigel Gee proved again that it is one of very few design companies that can develop robust design solutions, whilst providing suitable levels of support during such an aggressive build schedule, without major discrepancies and delays.”

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The delivery of the remaining six vessels will be carried out over the next four months with four currently under construction.


Image: BMT and Ares Shipyard’s luxury passenger ferry is based on the composite catamaran design. Photo: courtesy of BMT Group Ltd.

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