T&T Spirit for Trinidad & Tobago

Incat 98 metre Wave Piercing Catamaran for Island Seabridge  Five years after the Port Authority and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago started to develop a vision for their national seabridge the Islands’ very own 98 metre Wave Piercing Catamaran is on its way to the Caribbean.

Newly delivered to The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) is the T&T Spirit (Incat hull 060) which has emerged from Incat’s Hobart shipyard sporting a striking livery of white hull with the Trinidad & Tobago national colours of red, white and black on its sides.

A luxurious and stylish interior of seated dining areas lounges and bars has been provided and to tempt Caribbean travellers to the T&T Spirit‘s birthplace interior bulkheads are adorned with scenes of Tasmania.

The PATT also recently purchased the Incat 91 metre Wave Piercing Catamaran The Lynx in a US$21 million deal with Australian owner Allco Finance Group.  Renamed T&T Express, that ferry, which was once well known for its eye catching black Devil Cat livery, has also been painted with the national colours of Trinidad & Tobago.

These purchases follow far reaching government investigations into tonnage options. Incat’s Wave Piercing Catamaran technology revolutionised the Trinidad & Tobago seabridge in January 2005 when, as part of their investigations, the PATT chartered Bay Ferries’ Incat 98 metre The Cat (Hull 059). This vessel entered commercial service on the 85 nautical mile route between Port of Spain and Scarborough and since then, by operating in the Caribbean during the off peak season of its core Canadian operation, The Cat has been instrumental in demonstrating the suitability of Incat Wave Piercing Catamarans on this demanding service.

Immediately upon entering service The Cat, operating at speeds of approximately 40 knots, slashed crossing times in half to two hours and fifteen minutes and for the first time the nation’s seabridge became a reliable and predictable transportation alternative to air travel. The craft quickly became the transport of choice and with capacity for 900 persons and up to 267 cars she successfully responded to the major challenge of catering for 10,000 passengers over the Carnival period.

From the outset demanding benchmarks for proven year round in service reliability, high levels of passenger comfort, low operating costs and the ability to carry heavy freight were established. With the permanent acquisition of the T&T Express and the T&T Spirit, these benchmarks have been exceeded.

T&T Spirit continues the work of The Cat as the transport of choice for discerning Caribbean travellers. Trinidad & Tobago’s seabridge is now a reliable and predictable transportation alternative to air travel.

T&T Spirit Principal Particulars

Length overall                         –          97.22 m

Length waterline                      –          92.00 m

Beam overall                           –          26.60 m

Beam of Hulls                         –          4.50 m

Draught                                  –          3.43 m loaded

Speed                                    –          approx 38.0 knots @ 700 tonnes deadweight

–                   approx 42.0 knots @ 350 tonnes deadweight

Capacities

Deadweight                            –          approx 700 tonnes

Total persons                          –          900

Vehicles                                 –          380 truck lane metres plus 80 cars, or a total of 180 cars.

Vehicle Deck Axle Loads         –          Transom to Frame 49 – maximum 10 tonnes per single axle

                                             –          Forward of Frame 49 Ramp A to D – 0.8 tonnes per axle.

Fuel (operating)                       –          190,080 litres

Fresh Water                           –          2 x 5000 litres

Sewage                                  –          2 x 4500 litres

Lube Oil                                 –          2 x 1500 litres

Oily Water/Waste Oil              –          2 x 1600 litres

Machinery Installations

Main Engines                         –          4 x MAN B&W 20RK270 marine diesel engines, each rated at 7080 kW @ 100% M.C.R. at 29/35 Celsius.

                                             –          Vertical dry exhaust system discharging outboard at portal top.

Water Jets                             –          4 x Lips 120E waterjets configured for steering and reverse.

Transmission                          –          4 x Reintjes or ZF gearboxes, approved by engine manufacturer, with reduction ratio suited for optimum jet shaft speed.

Alternators                             –          4 x Cummins N14 265kW (nominal) marine brushless self-excited alternators

Ride Control                           –          A ‘Maritime Dynamics’ active ride control system is fitted to maximise passenger comfort. This system combines, active trim tabs aft and fold-down T-foil located at aft end of centre bow fitted with active fins.

INCAT
INCAT