Incat Crowther has won a contract to design two 25m catamaran passenger ferries, which will operate in St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
Being built at Midship Marine yard in Louisiana, US, the two ferries follow the four UltraJet boats built by the yard and will have a similar configuration, with a half-height wheelhouse enabling a completely open upper passenger deck.
Each ferry will be able to accommodate 200 passengers and four crew members.
The upper deck will have space for 72 seats, while the main deck passenger cabin can accommodate 131 passengers with space for two wheelchairs.
Like the UltraJet boats, the vessels will be boarded through fold-down ramps located on all four corners of the vessel.
The ferries will be built to US Coast Guard (USCG) Subchapter K design and are expected to meet the recent updates to fire and safety regulations (NVIC 9-97 Change 1).
In order to meet regulations, the vessels will be equipped with A-class structural fire protection and fire doors to the main passenger cabin.
The new ferries will be equipped with two Caterpillar C32 ACERT main engines, each capable of generating 1300hp.
Each vessel will have a design speed of 27 knots and a top speed of 30 knots, achieved at 75% maximum continuous rating (MCR).
Image: The new Catamaran passenger ferries will be powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 ACERT main engines, each capable of producing 1300hp. Credit: Incat Crowther.
