New Incat Crowther ferry

Construction of the vessel, which will be operated in Sydney Harbour by Sealink subsidiary, Captain Cook Cruises, has already commenced at Richardson Devine Marine in Tasmania.

Incat worked closely with Sealink on the design of the vessel which it says “offers exceptional value to the operator.”

This, the company says, is because of the tangible measures taken to reduce capital investment and running costs. It has also been designed with a view to reducing ongoing maintenance costs.

Stewart Marler, Incat Crowther, said to Maritime Journal: “The vessel’s main advantage is that she will have efficient hulls that will create minimal wash and burn low fuel, whilst maintaining good seakeeping. We believe we have the best combination of these two often conflicting ideals, and the result will give the operator unmatched operational flexibility.”

The vessel can seat 116 passengers in its main passenger cabin with room for another 31 on the aft deck and 51 on the open upper deck. It will be certified to carry 127 passengers along the coast and 198 passengers within the harbour.

Boarding gates are located on the foredeck, with particular attention being paid to visibility from the wheelhouse.

Powered by a pair of Scania DI13 070M man engines, the vessel will be able to operate at a top speed of 24 knots.