Incat Crowther Launch Pair of 25M Catamaran Ferries
Incat Crowther launched Red Hook I and Cruz Bay I, a pair of 25m catamaran passenger ferries to operate in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Delivered by Midship Marine in Louisiana, these vessels follow on from the successful trio of UltraJet boats, also built by the yard to Incat Crowther’s design.
The new vessels have a similar configuration, with a half-height wheelhouse allowing a completely open upper passenger deck. Seventy-two seats are fitted to the upper deck, whilst the main deck passenger cabin is fitted with seats for 131, plus a pair of wheelchair spaces. The aft deck houses an ADA-compliant toilet and luggage racks.
As with the UltraJet boats, boarding is via fold-down ramps situated on all four corners of the vessel. Designed and built to USCG Subchapter K, these boats meet the recent updates to fire and safety regulations. Compliance with these most recent regulations requires the protection of the embarkation and muster stations from the effects of fire and flooding. To meet these regulations, these vessels are fitted with A-class structural fire protection and fire doors to the main passenger cabin.
The vessels are powered by a pair of Caterpillar C32 ACERT main engines, each producing 1300hp. The vessels’ required speed of 30 knots was achieved at 75% MCR.
This article was originally published on Marine & Industrial Report newspaper Vol 36 No.2 Issue last April 30, 2014.
