Australian high speed craft specialist Incat Tasmania is breaking new ground with its latest high speed catamaran, a 76 metre fast ferry for Seaworld Express Ferry of South Korea.
Incat says that this new 76 metre vessel will be the high-speed craft market frontrunner in terms of economy, seakeeping, and comfort for vessels of its size.
Virtu Ferries confirmed to Ferry Shipping News to have signed a Letter of Intent with Seachange for their Foil 40 electric ropax hydrofoil with plans to start operating the vessel between both Valletta (Malta) and Pozzallo (Italy), and between Valletta and Gozo.
Manufactured from carbon composite, the fully electric Foil 40 by Seachange will be the first hydrofoil capable of carrying both passengers and vehicles. The 40-meter vessel with a capacity for 250 passengers and 200 lane metres for vehicles and freight, will sail at a speed of 45 knots.
The first Foil 40 vessel is expected to be in service by 2025.
With 6m long struts lifting the hulls out of the water, and advanced control algorithms, the Foil 40 will allow for sailings in sea conditions with a swell of up to five meters, offering great seakeeping and a smooth ride.
A prototype 24m version of the Foil 40, which is already under construction, is set to start o operation in 2023 on the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
The new high-speed ferry for the Gozo- Malta route is expected to arrive in Valletta towards the end of March 2022.
GOZO EXPRESS, carries 308 passengers and includes outside seating.
It was designed by Incat Crowther.
GOZO EXPRESS is powered by four MTU 12V2000 M72 engines and four Rolls Royce water jets and is capable of a maximum speed of more than 38 knots, and a service speed of 35 knots.
It will replace the SES SAN PAWL and will operate alongside the SES SAN FRANGISK.
The SES SAN PAWL will be redeployed on the company’s Venice to Croatia route under the banner of Venezia Lines.
Virtu Ferries announced the purchase of a new High-Speed Ferry for the Mgarr, Gozo to Valletta, Malta route.
This €7 Million investment indicates Virtu’s commitment to the Gozo route.
The HSC GOZO EXPRESS, will be registered under the Malta flag and was designed by lncat Crowther.
HSC GOZO EXPRESS has an overall length of 42.2 meters, with a carrying capacity of 322 passengers, in airconditioned lounges on two decks and outside seating for 40 passengers on the upper deck.
She is powered by four MTU 12V2000 M72 engines and four Rolls Royce water jets and is capable of a maximum speed of more than 38 knots, and a service speed of 35 knots.
She successfully completed sea trials in December 2021 and is expected to be delivered to Virtu Ferries by mid-March 2022.
HSC GOZO EXPRESS will replace the SES SAN PAWL and will operate alongside the SES SAN FRANGISK.
SAN PAWL will be redeployed on the company’s Venice to Croatia route under the banner of Venezia Lines.
Virtu ferries Asked for a 10-year Quay Concession in the Port of Catania
In order to start the new high-speed service linking Malta and Sicily (which has been recently postponed of few months), Virtu Ferries has just asked the local port authority a quay concession in the pot of Catania.
The request is for 10 years, for a surface of roughly 5,000m2 (onshore and offshore).
Virtu Ferries will deploy JEAN DE LA VALLETTE between Valletta and Catania responding to the requirements of Maltese and Sicilian importers and exporters while the other unit in fleet, SAINT JOHN PAUL II (photo), is to remain active between Malta and the Sicilian port of Pozzallo.
The high-speed ferry operator Virtu Ferries publicly announced that the start of the new route between Malta and Catania (Sicily) will be postponed.
Last year, the company said it would deploy the vessel JEAN DE LA VALETTE between Valletta, Augusta and Catania in Q1 2021, responding to the requirements of Maltese and Sicilian importers and exporters.
The new plans see both JEAN DE LA VALETTE and SAINT JOHN PAUL II active during summer on Virtu Ferries’ maritime link between Malta and the Sicilian port of Pozzallo.
Virtu Ferries, operators of the high-speed ferry SAINT JOHN PAUL II, have been authorized by the Maltese and Italian Authorities, to operate the vessel on the Malta-Pozzallo-Malta route as per schedule. This service can only be availed of by registered commercial vehicles and their drivers.
Incat Tasmania has delivered a 110m fast vehicle/passenger ferry to Virtu Ferries of Malta for their service between Malta and Sicily.
The vessel, SAINT JOHN PAUL II has departed Hobart Tasmania on the first leg of her delivery voyage and will arrive in Grand Harbour Valletta by the end of this month.
Incat hull 089 will be the largest ro-pax catamaran ever built for operation in the Mediterranean.
Virtu Ferries Not Happy With Government Decisions
Virtu Ferries, the operators of the fast catamaran service between Malta and Sicily, launched a legal challenge contesting the selection of Islands Ferry Network Ltd by the Gozo Ministry. The latter has been selected as partner to Gozo Channel.
According to Virtu, the selected company, which was officially registered just a few days before the public announcement, did not have the necessary experience and resources to carry out such a service.
Virtu is also challenging a tender issued by Transport Malta that is connected to the provision of Malta-Gozo ferry services and the provision of government subsidies for the operation.
Incat is building a 110m wave piercing catamaran for Virtu Ferries of Malta, with delivery planned for end 2018. This new unit will become the 15th fast ferry Virtu has acquired and it will be the largest high-speed catamaran in the Mediterranean. A crossing from Malta to Sicily will take 90 minutes, berth to berth.
This week it has been announced that the ferry will be named after Saint John Paul II. Pope John Paul II sailed with Virtu Ferries when visiting the island in 1990.
For Virtu Ferries this new vessel provides a significant increase in capacity offering 43% more truck capacity, 15% more pax capacity and 7% more car capacity.
Photo © Incat / Virtu Ferries
