Austal Delivers 72 metre Catamaran to Greece

Austal Ships has completed the first of three Auto Express high speed vehicle-passenger ferries for Greek operator, Minoan Flying Dolphins Maritime. The 72 metre catamaran, “Highspeed 2”, will be ready to enter service for the summer season and will be followed by identical sistership, “Highspeed 3”, and the larger capacity Auto Express 92, “Highspeed 4”.

“High Speed 2”, with a capacity to carry 620 passengers (80 VIP, 118 Business, 422 Tourist) and 70 cars, will join Minoan Flying Dolphin’s extensive fleet of fast ferries and will operate in and around the beautiful Aegean islands. Her interior design has been tailored specifically toward customer comfort and entertainment with 1250 square metres devoted to passengers and support services.

The 72 metre catamaran boasts a number of unique features, making it one of the most sophisticated vessels delivered by Austal to date. “Highspeed 2” is the first Austal vessel to be fitted with the Seastate Tmax high speed steering system. This innovative system takes over control from the vessel’s waterjets at speeds in excess of 25 knots, allowing all waterjet thrust to be vectored forward for maximum propulsive thrust (ie Tmax), and eliminating waterjet bucket drag. Seastate estimates the system to provide average service speed improvements in excess of two knots in rough sea operations.

Austal’s ability to customise a vessel to suit the client’s needs is clearly demonstrated with the inclusion of many specific design features on “Highspeed 2” such as hydraulically operated passenger-loading gangways that hinge off the waterjet guards fitted to the aft end of each hull. This ensures safer and faster passenger access as the vessel will moor stern to the quay for loading and discharge. (Normally this mooring arrangement requires passengers on foot to share the same aft ramp as the vehicles, causing considerable congestion and risk to the passengers.)

The Greek Islands are notorious for gusty and variable winds during the summer period when there is maximum pressure on the operator to maintain schedule. Together, Minoan Flying Dolphins and Austal solved the turnaround time issue by utilising a combination of specially designed mooring and anchor windlasses and high specification anchors to ensure rapid deployment and recovery of all lines and ground tackle.

PRINCIPAL DATA – HIGHSPEED 2
Length Overall: 72.0 metres
Beam (moulded): 17.5 metres
Depth (moulded): 5.9 metres
Hull Draft (approx.): 2.5 metres
Vehicle Deck Clear Height: 2.4 metres
Main Engines: 4 x MTU 16V 595
Speed: 40 knots.