"Cat No. 1" Still on Target in the German Bight

Norden-Frisia's 52 metre Austal fast ferry is set for a fifth year of success.

German ferry operator Norden-Frisia will begin its fifth season operating the Austal-built fast catamaran “Cat No. 1” in April, with every expectation that past successes will continue.

Delivered in 1999, the 52 metre, 432 passenger ferry is based on the island of Norderney off the north German coast and operates for seven months of the year, primarily to Helgoland, a popular tourist island in the German Bight.

“The fast ferry has been very important in helping Norden-Frisia compete against other operators in the Helgoland service,” said Norden-Frisia’s Marketing Manager, Mr Fred Meyer. “As a result we are still a major player in this competitive market.”

Normally operating at between 36 and 38 knots, “Cat No. 1” is able to complete two trips from different ports each day, with calls at additional harbours also included. This has resulted in passenger volumes that are almost three times those achieved with the previous conventional ferry, which could only complete one day trip.

Demanding service demands the best

The “Cat No. 1” timetable is demanding. So, too, are the conditions imposed by the North Sea – which is why seakeeping, speed and reliability are top priorities for Norden-Frisia.

Only two or three trips are cancelled per year for technical reasons and on average over 95% of all trips are completed, with most cancellations being weather-related.

Despite the absence of ride control T-foils, which couldn’t be fitted due to draft restrictions, Norden-Frisia’s Technical Manager Mr Heinz Stolle said the seakeeping is very good in seas up to 1.5 metres and has certainly met both Norden-Frisia’s and its customers’ expectations.

“We set the limit for operation at between 1.5 and 2.0 metres wave height,” he explained. “Even though the ship can take more, we take care of the passengers by not operating in rougher conditions.”

Popular with passengers

Last season, the high performance Austal catamaran carried approximately 54,500 passengers, an increase of approximately 21 per cent on the previous year.

“Even though Germany was, and is, facing a recession, people are still ready and able to spend money for a high class product such as a day trip to Helgoland with our catamaran,” Mr Meyer said.

“Even after four seasons in operation we still get very positive feedback from our passengers. The catamaran already has its own fans who come every year for one or more rides.”

Thanks to the efforts of the Norden-Frisia cabin crew the interior on “Cat No 1” is still looking good. The fact that the original carpet is still in place is also testament to the benefit of selecting of high quality, hard wearing, easy-to-maintain finishes. The operator says the quality of the air conditioning is another area singled out for praise from the passengers.

Owner’s requirements met from the outset

“Cat No. 1 is a symbol of the high technical standard of our company and the best advertisement for our commitment to safety and reliability,” Mr Meyer says.

“We keep an eye on the vessel and maintenance and safety, which go hand-in-hand, are the number one priorities for our company.”

Commenting on the vessel, Mr Stolle said, “Overall we are very satisfied with the ship, its design and its performance including the seakeeping, the interior and the equipment. Of course, we would change some specific things based on our experience, but that is always to be expected.”

The degree to which Austal met Norden-Frisia’s requirements in the first instance is reflected in the minor nature of the changes that have been made.

“About the biggest change we made to the construction was the additional of extra davits for the gangways on the upper deck,” Heinz Stolle said.

The crew, he says, love the vessel and from an operational standpoint are very satisfied with its maneuverability in confined harbours and shallow waters, while those responsible for the cabin service are very satisfied with the functionality of the interior and equipment.

“Superb” service and support

Norden-Frisia are also very pleased with the level of service and support provided by Austal Ships after “Cat No. 1” was delivered.

“The service and support was indeed superb. When we first started operating we were happy that a service engineer was close at hand,” Mr Stolle said, referring to Austal Service’s Darren Edwards who is based permanently in Europe to support operators in the region.

“Now we are experienced enough that we can manage things ourselves, though we sometimes contact Austal for some ‘mental support’ which is a matter of simply sending an email.”

The Formula One of the sea

Mr Stolle says that committing appropriate effort and expertise in vessel maintenance is a key to the successful operation and high reliability of its fast ferry.

““Cat No. 1” doesn’t just look like a Formula One car, it is the Formula One of the sea. This means especially that the engines need a lot of attention from our best engineers. The catamaran is a complex system and if a single part fails some of the systems might not work properly anymore. If you are aware of that, and willing to take the challenge, you will be able to handle it,” he says.

Like Norden-Frisia, Austal recognizes that maximum operational reliability and efficiency can only be achieved by applying high-speed vessel expertise and experience, not only in the design and construction but also once the vessel is in service. For this reason, Austal Service provides world-class maintenance, repair and ship management services to operators worldwide, even those who operate vessels built by other shipyards.

With four years of service under “Cat No. 1’s” keels, and a fifth rapidly approaching, Fred Meyer says Norden-Frisia would not, even with the benefit of hindsight, make any different choices regarding the purchase, design or operation of its Austal passenger catamaran.

“Overall, we are still very satisfied with the vessel and its performance. We would make the same decisions again – as parachutists say it was a landing on the spot.”