Fifth Austal Fast Ferry Delivered For Hellenic Seaways

Greek ferry passengers this summer are now even more likely to travel on an Austal built ferry following the soon to be introduced “Highspeed 5” for Hellenic Seaways (formerly Hellas Flying Dolphins) that was handed over today by the West Australian shipyard.

Hellenic Seaways is Greece’s largest domestic ferry operator, transporting approximately 6 million passengers, 200,000 trucks and 800,000 cars every year. “Highspeed 5” will bring the total number of vessels in the Hellenic Seaways fleet to 34.

In keeping with the stern-to mooring style commonly used in Greece, the vessel has been customised to provide separate passenger and vehicle loading ramps. The bi-fold ramps enable loading and unloading onto a low landing stage and the ferry will be equipped with high speed anchor winches and mooring winches to allow for efficient berthing.

Austal Sales and Product Development Manager Mr Glenn Williams said the contract was confirmation of Austal’s commitment to providing specialised solutions for ferry operators.

“The Greek market has unique needs that need unique solutions. It is this approach that sets us apart from our competitors and provides the ability to develop long term relationships with our customer base,” he said.

Hellenic Seaways, General Manager Gerassimos Strintzis said: “Our reputation is based on providing a superior service as exemplified by our current Highspeed fleet. Austal’s ability to deliver a competitive solution tailored to our needs helped to secure this order and we look forward to this vessel providing an improved service to our customers.”

Following on from Austal’s experience in the build of the 92 metre “Highspeed 4”, the new catamaran capable of travelling in excess of 40 knots has three classes of seating (VIP, business and economy) each with its own bar and facilities. With capacity for 154 cars (or four coaches and 131 cars) and 809 passengers, the vessel will display a sophisticated level of fitout, disabled persons access (including a lift) in compliance with European Union regulations and crew accommodation for 26.

The boarding area will lead to a baggage room on the mezzanine deck and, for the comfort of passengers when boarding, dry exhaust funnels have been designed to direct main engine exhaust fumes away from the ramps and other passenger areas.

Interestingly, eight especially designed dog kennels have been provided based on a special Presidential Decree allowing their transport on a high speed ferry. Built in differing sizes for optimum comfort each kennel has a vacuum sanitary connection plumbed to the vessel’s black water system.

Following on from the successful delivery and introduction into service of the world first 127 metre vehicle-passenger trimaran to the Canary Islands in May, Austal continues to grow as a diversified shipbuilder across the commercial, military and private market segments in both the USA and Australian shipyards.

Austal Chairman, Mr John Rothwell commented, “Austal is the proven supplier of large fast ferries in terms of building to achieve customer requirements, stable utilisation of our fast ferry fleet, and the ability to achieve repeat orders. We will continue to focus on these strengths in order to design and build consistently better fast ferries and maintain our position as the operators’ choice into the future.”

In addition to this delivery, Austal is currently building high speed catamaran ferries for Virtu Ferries (Malta), Hawaii Superferry (USA) and two for L’Express des Iles (Guadeloupe). Also on order are 12 naval patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy, six Offshore Patrol Boats for the New South Wales Police and two cruise vessels for private owners.

Austal and Hellenic Seaways combine to make a special delivery

When the West Australian government offered to donate two specialised fire fighting trucks to Greece it was a pleasant coincidence that Austal and Hellenic Seaways could provide a highly specialised transport solution.

The two countries not only share a close connection via the strong Greek population in Australia, but also an arid, hard to access countryside that is at risk of devastating fires.

Australian fire fighting forces have developed many specially adapted vehicles to allow greater access into fire affected regions.

Courtesy of Hellenic Seaways two of these 3.4 tonne vehicles will be transported onboard “Highspeed 5” on the delivery voyage to Piraeus via the Suez Canal.

PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS

Length overall: 85.0 metres
Length waterline: 76.4 metres
Beam moulded: 21.2 metres
Hull depth moulded: 6.7 metres
Hull draft (maximum): 3.09 metres
Deadweight (maximum): 470 tonnes
Crew: 26
Passengers
VIP: 120
Business: 416
Tourist: 273
Total 809
Vehicles: 154 cars
or 4 coaches and 131 cars
Axle loads: - centre lanes: 9 tonnes (single axle)
12 tonnes (dual axle)
- outer lanes: 1 tonne
Vehicle deck clear height: 4.3 metres
Fuel (approx): 111,000 litres

PROPULSION

Main engines: 4 x Caterpillar 3618, 7,200 kW each
Propulsion: 4 x KaMeWa 112 SII
Service speed: 38 knots @ 400 dwt
Maximum speed: 41 knots @ 400 dwt

SURVEY

Classification: Germanischer Lloyd

FOOTNOTE:

Hellenic Seaways currently operates the following Austal vessels:

• The 48 metre passenger catamaran “Flyingcat 2” delivered in June 1998 (as “Flying Dolphins 2000”);
• “Highspeed 2” and “Highspeed 3”, two 72 metre vehicle-passenger catamarans delivered in May and July 2000;
• The 92 metre vehicle-passenger catamaran “Highspeed 4” delivered in July 2000.

Background to Donation

In April 2005 the Australian Embassy in Athens received a letter requesting Australia’s assistance in donating second hand bush fire fighting equipment to volunteer fire fighters in Greece. The request for assistance was from the Greek Volunteer Fire Brigade Organisation (Ethelontiko Soma Helleinon Pyrosveston Analasonton or ESEPA). ESEPA was established in 1999 and aims to promote the development of volunteer fire fighting brigades in rural Greece. The resources devoted to professional fire brigades outside metropolitan areas in Greece are very limited and without a volunteer fire fighting capacity small towns, villages and rural areas in Greece are heavily exposed to uncontrolled wild land fires. ESEPA is one of Greece's largest volunteer relief organisations. It is fully approved and accredited by the Greek Civil Defence Service (Politiki Prostasia) within the Ministry of the Interior, but it receives only notional state financial support.

ESEPA operates primarily on mainland Greece, although it also has branches on some of the islands. It has made good progress through the voluntary work and fund raising of its members in establishing volunteer fire stations and in training volunteer fire fighters. However, its fleet of fire trucks and equipment is too small and its trucks too old; ESEPA relies on donations of second hand trucks and fire fighting equipment to develop its fleet. During his participation in a training exercise in Australia, ESEPA's Manager for Equipment and Sponsorship was highly impressed with the bush fire fighting trucks and equipment he saw in Australia and recognised Australia as having the most advanced system for wild land fire fighting in the world. There are also similarities in some of the bush fire fighting conditions between Greece and Australia - hot, dry summers and rough, dry, scrubby terrain - which makes Australian equipment more appealing to ESEPA than that which might be donated from elsewhere. ESEPA has appealed, through the Embassy, to Australian authorities to consider donating old but still functional bush fire fighting trucks and equipment to ESEPA. Importantly, ESEPA has the support, again on a voluntary basis, of a number of specialised car repair and other machinery shops to ensure the interoperability and proper maintenance of donated equipment.

On the upgrading of its own fleet of vehicles, the Government of West Australia has generously agreed to donate to ESEPA two of its old 4wd bush fire fighting trucks. ESEPA has described the two vehicles as perfect for meeting their need for ‘first attack’ fire patrols in the rough terrain of rural Greece and as filling a major gap in their current bush fire fighting capacity.

On arrival in Greece the trucks will be going in the first instance to ESEPA's training facility at a village called Rizomata near Mt Olympus. Once the brigade has had a chance to become familiar with the trucks and their capabilities, a decision will be made on where in Greece they could be optimally deployed. The likelihood is that they would be deployed on mainland Greece or one of the more heavily-wooded islands.

ENDS