Incat Tasmania staff will be hard at work over the next nine months with six ferries to deliver by early in the New Year.
Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said “An order announced today for four new ferries for Manly Fast Ferry in Sydney, added to the two ferries currently already under construction for NBMA Thames Clippers in the UK is good news for over 300 workers at the Hobart shipyard, and it is expected this number will increase over the next few months.”
Manly Fast Ferry have ordered two 24 metre fast catamarans and two 33 metre fast catamarans, to service Manly and Sydney’s northern beaches. Operating on a frequent daily service, the vessels will carry commuters in peak hours and a mix of locals and tourists during off-peak times. It will be popular with visitors to Sydney showcasing Sydney’s spectacular harbour and ocean views.
Designed by Sydney company, One2Three Naval Architects, the 24 metre ferries (Incat hulls 78 & 79) will have capacity for 260 passengers plus crew, with indoor and outdoor seating on both the main passenger deck and upper deck where the bridge is located.
The larger 33 metre ferries (Incat hulls 80 & 81) will carry 375 passengers, again with a mix of undercover and outdoor seating.
All four Manly ferries will feature a kiosk, provide bicycle and surfboard racks, wheelchair access, with toilet facilities on board. Work on the ferries will commence as soon as final construction drawings are available.
The Hobart shipyard is well advanced with construction of two 35 metre passenger ferries destined for the River Thames in London, Incat hulls 075 and 076.
Incat Chairman Robert Clifford said “The role of the vessels is to provide rapid passenger transport services on the River Thames in Central London on various routes ranging from Putney in the west to Royal Woolwich Arsenal in the east.”
All six Thames and Manly ferries are designed by One2Three – Naval Architects of Sydney, with engineering and construction drawings by Tasmanian company Revolution Design Pty Ltd and Incat.
Manly Fast Ferry owner, Richard Ford said he is proud of the fact that this project is 100% home grown with all vessel production including design, engineering and manufacture being completed in Australia by Australian owned companies. Richard Ford considers Manly Fast Ferry’s investment into the development of new high speed, high capacity, low wash purpose built vessels necessary to further improve transport amenity to the Manly community.
For further information contact Judy Benson at Incat +61 3 62 711333 or +61 418 335299. Email jbenson@incat.com.au. www.incat.com.au