Incat Vessel Arrives in UK 24 Days after Leaving Tasmania
LD Lines’ brand new Incat 112 metre Wave Piercing Catamaran, Norman Arrow, arrived in the Port of Dover for the first time at 1730 hours on Tuesday 26th May, following completion of her three week delivery voyage from Hobart, Tasmania.
The Norman Arrow departed Tasmania on 2nd May and her journey has included calls into Fremantle (South West Australia), Port Victoria (Seychelles), transit through the Suez Canal and a final call into Valetta (Malta) from where she departed on 24th May, en route to Dover and Boulogne.
Master for the voyage from Hobart, Captain Nick Dunn, summed up his new ship perfectly, “The vessel has performed admirably throughout the voyage,” he said.
“Power, performance and quality all meet expectations and the Norman Arrow on appearance alone is sure to catch the public imagination. She is set to revolutionise cross channel travel and provide an exciting new option for passengers,” Captain Dunn said.
On a packed quayside at Dover to welcome the vessel after 12,000 miles of long ocean passages were crew relatives, friends and well wishers, including Incat’s Chairman Robert Clifford.
“Nineteen years ago, our first generation 74 metre catamaran, the Hoverspeed Great Britain, made her first crossing between Dover and Boulogne, so it obviously gives me great pleasure to see what is now the English Channel’s largest fast ferry arrive to take up service on this important link,” Mr Clifford said.
Speaking after disembarkation from the ship was Captain Guy South, who assisted Captain Dunn on the voyage from Hobart
“The last leg of our journey illustrated perfectly the capability of the Norman Arrow: 2,272 miles at an average speed of 39 knots running at about 80% MCR (Maximum Continuous Rating, i.e. power)”, he said.
“As a crew we are looking forward to seeing what the Norman Arrow is capable of in service and hopefully changing the face of the UK short sea market with our enhanced weather ability and freight capacity.
“To a man we enjoyed the delivery voyage, a once in a lifetime experience. The Norman Arrow is a fantastic craft and we will endeavour to get the best out of her and push the LD name to the forefront of the UK short sea sector,” Capt South concluded.
The Norman Arrow will be the largest ever fast ferry to operate on the cross channel routes between England and France, when she commences service on the Dover – Boulogne route from Saturday 6th June.
The fast ferry is the world’s largest diesel-powered catamaran and will also be the first-ever freight carrying high speed vessel to operate across the Dover Straits and first Incat 112 metre to operate in Europe.
LD Lines new Dover-Boulogne service will be greatly enhanced as the new fast ferry will increase frequency from the current two to six return sailings daily. All types of tourist traffic will be carried including cars, caravans, motorhomes, motorcycles, coaches and foot passengers, in addition to freight.
