Introducing Incat 057

Launched from Incat Tasmania’s Coverdales shipbuilding facility at Hobart’s Prince of Wales Bay on July 29, 2000 the 98 metre Incat Tasmania (hull number 057) is the largest aluminium ship yet to be built in Australia. Prior to taking up commercial service Incat Tasmania will dominate the north west waterfront of Sydney’s Darling Harbour while on charter to the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) for use as a business networking venue for the duration of the Olympics.

The Evolution 10b

The Evolution 10b further extends Incat’s ten year history in the production of high speed Wave Piercing ferries and delivers proven technology in a vessel capable of carrying a mix of passengers and freight at speeds over 40 knots. Owners and operators have the flexibility to configure the vessel to suit seasonal fluctuations whilst maximizing revenue. Deployed in a high volume, tourist route the operator will opt for maximum car capacity with minimum heavy vehicles, by utilising the optional mezzanine vehicle decks. To maximise flexibility during shoulder seasons or to provide a dedicated freight service, the mezzanine decks can be easily lifted to allow a high concentration of heavy highway vehicles.

Interior Design

The interior of the Evolution 10b can be tailored to suit customer requirements. Incat’s In-House Design Group and master craftsmen have a wealth of experience and take pride in producing a stylish yet practical layout that is well suited to the demands of an intensive passenger ferry service. All interior materials, including seats, carpets and wall coverings are selected not only to produce an integrated and harmonious interior, but also to comply with the most stringent IMO standards for fire, smoke and toxicity.

Incat Tasmania’s interior design comes from the designers’ board of Marketing@Incat featuring new innovative materials not used on previous Incat vessels and further expands the quality workmanship coming from the builder’s fit-out team. Central to the colour scheme of the vessel is the new woven Axminster carpet, made by Brintons Carpets, enabling the designer the stretch the imagination. Inspired by Sydney Harbour, the bright blue carpet features splashes of red, orange and aqua in alternating sail and fish motifs. Further enhancing the nautical environment, the interior features large expanses of Stratica woodgrain and marble vinyl flooring with inlaid sail motifs and woodgrain panelling throughout. The central amenity block’s exterior two tone walls, of blue wash over metallic panelling, mirror the colours of the oceans surrounding the vessel.

Passenger Facilities

Designed to accommodate up to 900 persons, the passenger area on Incat Tasmania is on one deck. Like Incat’s 96-metre Evolution 10 catamarans, the passenger cabin has three lounge areas along its length. Each lounge features its own style of seating, colour scheme and facilities. Passengers travelling without cars enter the ship through large side entry doors into the central Midships Lounge, the focal point for many onboard activities being surrounded by the shop, kiosk and outboard seating areas. The most striking feature of the Midships Lounge is the mirrored panel ceilings punctuated by port and starboard ceiling skylights with fluorescent lighting around their base. Passengers can sit in the tub style seats in clusters around circular tables or outboard of the planter boxes in recliner style lounge seating.

The Shop, opening onto the Midships Lounge, with large expanses of glass, sail motif flooring and decorative ceilings is set up to provide the standard selection of souvenirs, newspapers, books and magazines. The Midships Kiosk, where passengers can purchase a wide variety of refreshments and food, features woodgrain paneling and tiled flooring, adding to the elegance of this central lounge.

Forward Lounge

Popular on all 96-metre Incat vessels, the Forward Lounge on Incat Tasmania provides a panoramic 300º view of the horizon via sweeping tinted windows. The lounge features the Centreline Bar with casual “retro style” stool seating, all situated on the lower passenger floor level. This service centre, equipped with facilities to serve a wide variety of food and beverages, is sure to attract many patrons.

The outboard raised seating areas in the Forward Lounge enable passengers to relax in recliner style seating while taking in the vast and spectacular views over the ships bows. Aft and outboard of the central lower wheelhouse/crew accommodation and passenger toilet block are two casual lounges where passengers may sit in tub style seats surrounded by Incat’s innovative ‘skylight’ windows (floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows) and textured glass bulkheads. The latter are notable in having moulded into the glass panels the same sail and fish pattern as the carpet.

Disability Access

By extending the lower floor level from the aft passenger lounges through to the Forward Lounge’s new disability access ramp from the forward vehicle decks, Incat Tasmania is truly “disability access friendly”. The addition of the new ramp adds to the Evolution 10b’s already disability friendly passenger cabin ensuring all passengers have equal access to and from the vessel. This innovative ramp arrangement means that passengers, unable to climb the aft stairways, can park adjacent to the vehicle deck access door, away from the general movement of cars on the main vehicle deck and move in safety to the passenger cabin. Other advantages of the new ramp arrangement are that it eliminates the need for two stairways port and starboard, opening up the passenger cabin for more window seats. An additional benefit is that the fwd vehicle ramp (D) can be used as a dedicated “Disability Parking Area” if required.

Aft Lounge

Passengers travelling with cars enter Incat Tasmania from the vehicle deck via port and starboard internal stairs featuring overhead skylight windows and tiled motif flooring or by the external aft stairs into the Aft Lounge. This spacious area contains a mix of tub style seats with tables and recliner style seats surrounding the Mizzen Bar which provides facilities to serve a wide variety of food and beverages. Forward of the bar is the main amenity block containing male and females toilets, unisex disability toilet/baby change room and a staff area. Large windows facing onto the aft observation deck continues the vista of wide ocean views throughout the vessel allowing passengers a spectacular view of the waterjets in operation.

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning onboard Incat Tasmania is provided by Sanyo reverse cycle head pump units throughout, capable of maintaining between 20-22 deg C and 50% RH with a full passenger loads and ambient temperature of 32 deg C and 50% RH

Window Wash System

Beginning with Incat 053 Bentayga Express in late 1999, Incat passengers have a clearer view of the world, thanks to a new window wash system. Designed to keep the large panoramic forward and side windows clear of salt build up, the arrangement feeds a series of pipes located over each row of windows with washer outlets to spray each window as required. Thus the crew is able to wash all windows on the vessel from the one location. The system, fed from the ship’s domestic fresh water supply, ensures the passenger windows remain clean during a voyage and valuable operator/crew time can be spent on ships maintenance rather than cleaning windows.
Vehicle deck

Like all deliveries since Incat 050, the first Incat vessel capable of carrying heavy lorries and trucks, Incat Tasmania reinforces the company’s intention to dominate the niche fast ferry market for fast freight. Consequently the vessel’s vehicle decks offer a total of 380 truck lane metres at 3.1m wide x 4.3m clear height and 360 car lane metres at 2.3m wide x 2.1m high. Suitable for heavy road transport vehicles the main vehicle deck also benefits from unrestricted height for 6 metres and an unobstructed width of 18 metres at the stern.

The fitting of nine hoistable mezzanine vehicle decks gives the operator the flexibility to carry 260 cars and no heavy vehicles, or 12 road freight trailers with 180 cars, or 24 road freight trailers with 85 cars while offering the headroom demanded by oversize freight vehicles when raised. The vehicle decks, with clear lane markings painted on the deck, ensure fast vehicle loading and unloading with the flexibility to alter the configuration on a voyage to voyage basis.

Control Station

The raised control station (wheelhouse) onboard Incat Tasmania is small for a vessel its size. Its large windows provide 360-degree visibility for the officers over the new aerodynamic superstructure, while an aft-facing docking console and CCTV monitors negate the need for bridge wings with their associated windage. Consistent with all recent Incat vessels, the control station is fitted with the latest in electronic, navigation and communication equipment to comply with High Speed Craft Code Sea Area A2.

Powerplant

Unlike Incat’s first three Evolution 10 class vessels, which had Caterpillar 3618 diesel engines installed, Incat Tasmania is powered by four Ruston 20RK270 medium speed diesels developing in excess of 28,000 kW. Produced in a special ‘gold’ finish in keeping with the Olympic involvement of the vessel, the engines drive transom-mounted steerable Lips 120E waterjets via Reintjes VLJ6831 gearboxes. All four waterjets are configured for steering and reversing, while an independent hydraulic system in each hull covers the steering and reverse functions. A new feature is the introduction of the new Lips 6-blade, high speed, high pressure waterjet incorporating a completely new control arrangement. Developed jointly by Incat and Lips, the new hydraulic cylinder layout eliminates much of the maintenance and operational problems experienced on previous waterjet models. An additional benefit of the new waterjet is the big reduction in weight compared with the earlier 150D units, providing a saving of around 30 tonnes. The new E series waterjets will also form the basis of any new Incat gas turbine powered vessels in the future.

Dry Exhaust System

A major improvement over earlier Incat vessels is the main engine dry exhaust system fitted to Incat Tasmania. First seen on Incat 053 Bentayga Express, the new system propels engine exhaust away from the vessel via twin funnels on top of the aft superstructure instead of into the tunnel between the vessel’s hulls. Developed in cooperation with Incat’s main engine suppliers Caterpillar and Ruston, the objective of the new exhaust system was to meet new international noise and emission standards. Early tests demonstrated that the new system meets noise level requirements set out by the Danish Maritime Authority for the Incat 91-metre vessels Mads Mols and Max Mols (048 and 049), currently trading between Arhus and Odden. In addition to meeting these stringent noise levels, the new exhaust system has been designed to take catalytic converters, improving already efficient emission controls. Noise and emission improvements were evident on Incat 053 and later on its sistership Incat 055, during delivery and operation, with both vessels proving to be quiet and extremely clean.

Ride Control / Sea Keeping

The Maritime Dynamics/Incat Ride Control System consisting of transom mounted trim tabs and a new retractable bow T-Foil (see below) further improves the 98-metre vessel’s excellent sea keeping qualities. These, combined with a new hull form featuring longer outer bows, fuller midship sections, stern skeglets and improved centrebow clearances, means Motion Sickness Incidence has been reduced by up to 40% in higher sea states by reducing pitch, roll and heave, the major contributors to passenger discomfort.

Retractable T-foil

Incat Tasmania features the revolutionary new retractable T-Foil located at the aft end of the centre bow. Developed jointly by Incat and Maritime Dynamics Inc, the new foil retracts out of the water and behind the centre bow when not in use. When lowered it performs the same functions as the previous “bolt-on” T-foils mounted under the forward end of the outer bows. Previous T-foils, although extremely efficient, were exposed to damage or loss from submerged objects and required the vessel to be dry docked for installation or servicing and contributed to a reduction in speed in conditions where they weren’t required.

When the sea conditions are calm, the foil is retracted increasing vessel speed and reducing the possibility of damage by submerged objects. In the event of an object strike while the foil is in use, it will retract immediately. All mechanical and hydraulic components are above the water allowing servicing to take place while the vessel is afloat. Simplifying installation and servicing procedures, reduced maintenance and the elimination of the need for replacement all result in a reduction in operational costs over the life of a vessel.

Lifesaving Equipment

Incat Tasmania is fitted with six evacuation stations; two on each side of the vessel contain an IMO approved MES (Marine Evacuation System) supplied by Liferaft Systems Australia, with an additional liferaft access station on each aft mooring deck. An MES consists of an inflatable slide, which connects with multiple 100-person liferafts. The evacuation arrangement has proved capable of evacuating the full vessel’s complement in times much faster than the IMO requirements. In additional the vessel is designed and built with high levels of reserve buoyancy, fire detection/protection and safety systems redundancy.

Fire Protection

Hobart-based company Colbeck & Gunton supply the lightweight structural fire protection system aboard Incat Tasmania, including fire doors and dampers. The ‘Rapid Access’ (deckhead) and ‘Lightweight’ (bulkhead) fire protection system meets all the demands for lighter weight and faster installation/removal for this type of craft. An addressable fire detection system, CCTV cameras, zoned fire sprinkler systems and hydrants protect engine rooms, vehicle decks and passenger areas. Incat Tasmania is also fitted with portable fire extinguishers, fire-protection suits and equipment, water fog applicators, breathing apparatus, international connections and fire control plans to meet IMO requirements.

Specifications

Builder Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd
Certification DNV 1A1 HSLC R1 Car Ferry “B” EO Certificate
Length Overall 97.22 m
Length Waterline 92.00 m
Beam Overall 26.62 m
Draft (Full Disp) 3.40 m
Draft (Lightship) 2.19 m
Hull Beam 4.50 m
Deadweight +750 tonnes
Speeds (100%mcr) Approximately 48 knots @ lightship
Approximately 42 knots @ 375 tonnes deadweight
Total Persons up to 900 people
Vehicle Deck Capacity 380 truck lane metres at 3.1m wide x 4.3 clear height
Car Capacity additional to above of 80 cars at 4.5m length x 2.3m wide
Full Car Capacity 260 cars (no trucks)
Axle Loads Transom to Frame 49 – 10 tonnes per single axle
Fwd of frame 49, ramp A to D and Mezzanine Decks – 0.8 tonnes per axle
Fuel Capacity 4 x 40m3 integral aluminium tank and additional long-range tank of minimum 170m3 capacity provided in each hull.
Fresh Water 1 x 5.0 m3 GRP tank.
Sewage 1 x 5.0 m3 GRP tank.
Main Engines 4 x Ruston 20RK270 marine diesels of 7080kW @ 1030rpm
Transmission 4 x Reintjes VLJ6831 Gearboxes
Water Jets 4 x Lips LJ150 D waterjets configured for steering and reverse
Alternators 4 x Caterpillar 3406B 230 kW alternators supplying 415V, 50Hz
Distribution 415V, 50 Hz. 3 phase 4 wire distribution with neutral earth allowing 240 volt supply using one phase and one neutral
Escape 4 x Marine Evacuation Stations and 2 x external aft stairs. Total of 10 x 100 person rafts fitted
2 x SOLAS inflatable dinghy with 30 hp motor and approved launch / recovery method
Fire Detection Addressable fire detection system covering all high and moderate risk spaces (other than the wheelhouse) with alarm panel situated in the wheelhouse with CCTV cameras
Fire Protection Lightweight structural fire protection protects all moderate and high risk spaces
Drenchers Vehicle decks protected by a zoned drencher system capable of operating two zones simultaneously. Pax area protected by a zoned, dry, closed bulb drencher system.

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