Austal Vietnam’s third vessel is anticipated to enter service between Pape’ete (Tahiti) and Vaitape (Bora Bora) in French Polynesia in July 2023.
Austal Vietnam’s Vung Tau shipyard has efficiently launched a brand new high-speed catamaran being constructed for the Degage Group of French Polynesia. Ordered in 2021, the 66 meter Apetahi Express (Austal Hull 425) is now present process last fit-out, previous to sea trials that are because of start this month. The vessel is scheduled for supply in June 2023.
“Austal’s latest catamaran design offers operators an impressive looking vessel that is both highly efficient and flexible, with multiple indoor and outdoor decks for passengers and a large cargo space accommodating up to 16 tonnes for high-speed inter-island transportation,” mentioned Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg. “I know that the Degage Group, who have bought five ferries from Austal over the past couple of decades, are excited about adding Apetahi Express to their fleet and introducing a superior service to their customers in French Polynesia; and we’re delighted to be partnering with them on this project.”
Apetahi Express is the third vessel constructed on the Vung Tau shipyard since its opening in 2018.
“The Austal Vietnam team have worked exceptionally hard to launch this new catamaran, for one of our most loyal commercial customers, the Degage Group, and I congratulate them all on a job well done – the ship looks fantastic,” mentioned Austal Vietnam president Mark Dummett. “We’re looking forward to delivering the sixth ship from Austal to the Degage Group and seeing Apetahi Express sailing the beautiful waters of French Polynesia, soon.”
The new Austal Passenger Express 66 catamaran has a size general (LOA) of 66.4 meters, beam of 15.2 meters and draft of 1.8 meters. The vessel can accommodate 574 passengers on its two passenger decks, with a further 80 seats obtainable on an exterior solar deck. Crew lodging contains seven two-berth cabins and two single-berth cabins. The vessel has 4 passenger entry ramps and might carry as much as 16 tonnes of cargo, loaded through two cranes.
Fitted with 4 diesel engines and 4 waterjets, together with Austal’s movement management system (together with energetic interceptors and T-foils) the brand new ferry could have a contracted prime pace of 35.8 knots and a spread of as much as 360 nautical miles, with further vary enabled by a fitted long-range tank. It is supplied with Austal’s newest MARINELINK-Connect technology
The new ferry is anticipated to start out operations between Pape’ete (Tahiti) and Vaitape (Bora Bora) in French Polynesia in July 2023.
