Australia’s Incat has been contracted by Malta-based fast ferry operator Virtu Ferries to design and build a 110m vehicle passenger (RoPax) ferry.

With a service speed of up to 38k, the newly ordered ferry will be fifteenth fast ferry operated by Virtu.

Capable of completing the journey from Malta to Sicily, Italy, in around 90 minutes, the new vessel will provide 43% more truck capacity, 15% more pax capacity, and 7% more car capacity to Virtu.

"The new vessel will provide 43% more truck capacity, 15% more pax capacity, and 7% more car capacity to Virtuquot."

Construction of the vessel is scheduled to begin by early next year, with delivery planned at the end of 2018.

To be built on the design modelled by Revolution Design and Seaspeed Consulting, the ferry will include a three class interior and a total of 1,134 seats, of which 996 seats are inside and 138 outdoor.

Virtu Ferries chairman and owner Francis Portelli said “We simply want to provide our passengers and freight operators with the highest levels of service, reliability and comfort yet at the same time operate an economical and environmentally sustainable high speed service.

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“As this project has evolved over more than 12 months we have enjoyed an excellent cooperative working relationship with Incat, Revolution Design and Seaspeed Marine where they have listened to our particular requirements and continually evolved the design to a point where we are confident that we will be delivered a fantastic vessel suited not only to our requirements but the design is suited to many other island communities around the world.”

Incat said that the vessel would be built as per the DNV-GL classification society rules.

The vessel will also comply with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) high speed craft (HSC) 2000, as well as Malta Flag statutory requirements and Italian Port State requirements.


Image: A vessel operated by Virtu Ferries. Photo: courtesy of Incat.