Post by ferryfast admin on Nov 18, 2011 10:36:42 GMT -5
Austal Naval Architect Anthony Livanos; Connexnav's Francois Bougault; Vale New Caledonia Maritime Section Manager Olivier Rousseau; and Austal Sales Manager Dan Fisher in front of the 41m vessel currently under construction.
41m Fast Ferry Under Construction for Vale New Caledonia
Construction is progressing rapidly on a 41m high speed aluminium passenger ferry for the New Caledonian operations of global mining company Vale, at Austal’s Henderson shipyard.
Austal Press Release
November 17, 2011
Due for delivery in May 2012, the vessel is designed to provide new levels of speed and comfort to members of the company’s 1,000 strong workforce as they commute between Noumea and the Goro mine site’s Prony Port.
The high speed catamaran will have the capacity to carry up to 439 passengers at 37.5 knots with journey time expected to be less than an hour each way.
Austal previously announced this contract to the Australian Stock Exchange on June 9, 2011, but could not disclose Vale as the client at that time.
Vale New Caledonia’s Maritime Section Manager, Olivier Rousseau, visited Austal recently to view the progress of the vessel, which is expected to launch in early 2012.
“It is exciting to see the rate at which the aluminium fabrication and outfitting of the vessel is progressing, and we are looking forward to taking delivery of this catamaran in mid-2012,” said Mr Rousseau.
“We have worked very closely with the Austal team throughout this project, and we are confident that this vessel was designed in line with all of our quality, technical and operational requirements.”
Austal Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bellamy, commented that the company has enjoyed working with Vale on what will be Austal’s fourth vessel delivery to New Caledonia.
“In terms of safety, performance and practicality, the Vale vessel will deliver improved levels of maritime transportation while providing an important service to one of the region’s largest nickel mines,” said Mr Bellamy.
VESSEL SPECIFICATIONS
Principal Particulars
Length Overall: 41.2 metres
Length Waterline: 38.4 metres
Beam Moulded: 10.9 metres
Hull Depth Moulded: 4.3 metres
Hull Draft (maximum): 1.98 metres
Capacity
Internal – Main Deck 313
Internal – Upper Deck 126
Crew 7
Propulsion
Main Engines: 4 x MTU 16V 2000 M72 (IMO Tier II compliant)
Gearboxes: 4 x Reintjes VLJ 730
Waterjets: 4 x Rolls Royce Kamewa 56A3
Performance
Speed 37.5 knots at 90% MCR
Classification: Bureau Veritas
French Flag
Further Information
Contact:
Austal
Phone:
61 8 9410 1111
Fax:
61 8 9410 2564
Email:
pubrel@austal.com