Austal Launches First Hawaii Superferry, The Largest Ever USA Built Aluminium High Speed Vessel

Target completed ahead of schedule and on budget

Another important milestone in the development of Austal USA was achieved on January 18 with the successful launch of Hull 615, a 107 metre high speed vehicle-passenger catamaran for Hawaii Superferry.

The impressive launch process was watched by a large local crowd given Austal USA’s location opposite the city centre in downtown Mobile, Alabama. The day began with a floating drydock being secured to the Austal sea wall on the Mobile River in front of the assembly bay. After ensuring that the drydock was properly aligned and secured the process of rolling the ferry out onto the drydock began with specialist operators maintaining an even distribution of weight at all times. This drydock was then towed back down river to deeper waters enabling the sinking and float-off of the ferry allowing her to be returned and tied up alongside Austal USA.

The day also revealed for the first time the impressive customised paint scheme developed by Hawaii Superferry that has been kept a closely guarded secret prior to launch. The ferry will now undergo final commissioning and sea trials before undertaking a delivery voyage to Hawaii where it will commence service.

Austal USA’s Chief Operating Officer, Dan Spiegel commented on the success of the launch by saying,

“Austal is proud to have designed and constructed this state-of-the-art vessel. It is the first one of its kind in the United States and we have been looking forward to the launch of this ferry for over two years since we celebrated the start of construction. This event represents Austal’s leadership when it comes to high-speed aluminium vessel design and construction.”

Since the front wall was recently removed in preparation for the launch the true scale of the fast ferry was clearly evident given the very tight fit within the enormous assembly bay. Hawaii Superferry’s first vessel is the largest aluminium vessel built in the USA to date, a testament to the establishment and investment by Austal since first acquiring the vacant land in 2000 and developing a purpose-built aluminium shipyard dedicated to the recruitment and training of first class tradespeople for the production of high speed, high technology aluminium vessels.

Following on from the prior completion of several smaller ferries up to 58 metres the ability of Austal USA to now build, engineer and launch a 107 metre design showcases what is being called a US ‘centre of excellence’ for high speed vessel construction. In developing its workforce size over seven years from a start up to numbers now approaching 850, Austal USA is able to leverage off Austal’s 19 year experience in Australia where, since 2000, it has led in the advanced design and delivery of +70 metre (230’) high speed vessels by a factor of 2:1 over the nearest global competitor.

In deliveries to follow the record set by the 107 metre Hawaii Superferry catamarans will be further eclipsed with the launch of two 127 metre trimaran Littoral Combat Ships also contracted and currently under construction for the US Navy at the Austal USA facility.

Construction began on the first Hawaii Superferry in June 2004 with a visit from a Hawaiian priest, or Kahu, to formally bless the vessel, the assembly bay and everyone that was involved in the project. Full contract funding for this two-vessel project was confirmed in October 2005 enabling work to be completed at an accelerated pace. Construction is advanced on the second ferry which is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2009 following the launch of the first Littoral Combat Ship.

Hawaii Superferry plans to use Austal fast ferry technology to establish Hawaii’s first high-speed vehicle-passenger service. Each catamaran can carry 866 passengers and up to 282 cars (or a combination of 28, twelve metre trucks and 65 cars) and provide services connecting Honolulu to Maui and Kauai in three hours and from Honolulu to the Big Island in approximately four hours.

With a draft of 3.6 metres (11’ 8”) and beam of 24 metres (78’), the ferry will commute between the Hawaiian Islands at speeds up to 35 knots. The vessel is four decks high, including two decks for the car and truck loading, one deck for passengers and the bridge deck reserved for the pilot and his crew. The 2nd deck or mezzanine deck is 2/3 hoistable in order to facilitate parking for lighter cars and leave maximum parking space for the larger trucks. The Upper Deck or passenger deck includes many premiere amenities for passengers of all ages besides comfortable seating. This deck includes a bar and lounge on each end, food counter, gift shop, video game room, children’s play area, restrooms, crew mess, purser’s office, and first aid room.

The ferry is powered by four MTU 20V 8000 M70 main engines connected to four ZF 53000 gearboxes. Maneuverability is supplied through four individually driven Kamewa 125 S11 waterjets.

PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS

Length overall:  106.5 meters / 349’-4”
Length waterline:  92.4 meters / 303’-1”
Beam moulded:  23.8 meters / 78’-1”
Hull depth moulded:  9.4 meters / 30’-10”
Hull draft (maximum):  3.65 meters / 11’-8”
Deadweight (maximum):  800 tonnes / 882 tons
Passengers  866
Crew  as per USCG requirements
Vehicles:  282 cars / or 28 forty-foot trucks (342 lane meters) with 65 cars
Axle loads: - center lanes:  16.5 tons (single axle) / 13.2 tons (dual axle)
Axle loads: - outer lanes:  9.9 tons (single axle) / 13.2 tons (dual axle)
Vehicle deck clear height:  - mezzanines raised  4.6 - 4.7 meters / 15'1” - 15’5”
Vehicle deck clear height:  - mezzanines lowered   2.6 meters / 8’6” below / 2.2 meters / 7’3” above
Fuel (approx):  215,000 liters/ 56,800 gallons

PROPULSION

Main engines:  4 x MTU 20V 8000 M70 / 4 @ 8,200 kW / 10,996 hp
Propulsion:  4 x KaMeWa 125 S11
Service speed:  35.0 knots, 90% MCR, 400 tons

SURVEY

Classification:  Germanischer Lloyd