Post by ferryfast admin on Mar 3, 2006 22:30:23 GMT -5
March 3rd 2006
New ferries for Christmas
Design for Sunferries new vessels Sunferries have now signed off on their long-planned order to purchase two new, 300 passenger capacity, fast cat ferries capable of travelling at 28 knots which shaves 7 minutes off the trip to and from Magnetic. The combined cost of the ferries is $6.3 million.
The ferries, which are being built by Brisbane Ship Building and were designed by One2Three naval architects, are hoped to be in service by Christmas.
According to Sunferries’ General Manager, Mark McKeon, the vessels are identical in design to each other and longer and narrower than the present vessels which will be sold off - apart from the reef cat which will remain.
“They will not be used for the reef, however they will be used for the Palm Island service when the reef cat not available,” he said.
Apart from turning the present 25 minute trip into 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 to depart. “They will certainly be more responsive for the skippers to manoeuver, and with the new luggage systems, it will be a lot quicker to unload and load,” Said Mark Mckeon.
As for fuel the new vessels are more efficient fuel-wise but, when asked if Sunferries could utilise the more environmentally sustainable biodiesel fuel he said, “We have looked into this however Caterpillar will not warrant the engines against any damage, it blocks up filters very quickly. It is 20% more expensive than regular diesel and there is only one source of supply in Australia at present. While I would love to use it, at the present time, it is not an option.”
As for noise, “All I can say is that they meet all of our Environment Protection Agency requirements and, as they are the latest and newest engines available, I am hopeful they will be quieter,” said Mark McKeon.
Interestingly the new vessels, which create less bow waves, may offer some extra capacity for faster passage up Ross Creek. Mark McKeon said, “We are working with Maritime Safety Queensland at present to gain approval to increase our speed in the creek. They will be involved in our sea trials but whether they will allow us to do this I can’t say. If that were possible it is likely we could maintain the 10 knot speed we run at entering the port all the way up to the turning point at the Breakwater terminal.” This could account for up to 1 or 1.5 minutes of saved travel time.
Story: George Hirst
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BRISBANE SHIP BUILDING
www.bscship.com.au/
New ferries for Christmas
Design for Sunferries new vessels Sunferries have now signed off on their long-planned order to purchase two new, 300 passenger capacity, fast cat ferries capable of travelling at 28 knots which shaves 7 minutes off the trip to and from Magnetic. The combined cost of the ferries is $6.3 million.
The ferries, which are being built by Brisbane Ship Building and were designed by One2Three naval architects, are hoped to be in service by Christmas.
According to Sunferries’ General Manager, Mark McKeon, the vessels are identical in design to each other and longer and narrower than the present vessels which will be sold off - apart from the reef cat which will remain.
“They will not be used for the reef, however they will be used for the Palm Island service when the reef cat not available,” he said.
Apart from turning the present 25 minute trip into 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 to depart. “They will certainly be more responsive for the skippers to manoeuver, and with the new luggage systems, it will be a lot quicker to unload and load,” Said Mark Mckeon.
As for fuel the new vessels are more efficient fuel-wise but, when asked if Sunferries could utilise the more environmentally sustainable biodiesel fuel he said, “We have looked into this however Caterpillar will not warrant the engines against any damage, it blocks up filters very quickly. It is 20% more expensive than regular diesel and there is only one source of supply in Australia at present. While I would love to use it, at the present time, it is not an option.”
As for noise, “All I can say is that they meet all of our Environment Protection Agency requirements and, as they are the latest and newest engines available, I am hopeful they will be quieter,” said Mark McKeon.
Interestingly the new vessels, which create less bow waves, may offer some extra capacity for faster passage up Ross Creek. Mark McKeon said, “We are working with Maritime Safety Queensland at present to gain approval to increase our speed in the creek. They will be involved in our sea trials but whether they will allow us to do this I can’t say. If that were possible it is likely we could maintain the 10 knot speed we run at entering the port all the way up to the turning point at the Breakwater terminal.” This could account for up to 1 or 1.5 minutes of saved travel time.
Story: George Hirst
@@@@@@@@@@@
BRISBANE SHIP BUILDING
www.bscship.com.au/