The Wizards of Oz
Part 2
John Snyder continues his report
PIONEER REGROUPS
Just across the road from Austal is WaveMaster International Pty. Ltd., which
pioneered several widely used technologies in fast ferry design.
These include such things as the four engine/four waterjet propulsion
system, honeycomb panel construction, the flush-mounting of windows
using high-strength silicone instead of frames, as well as constructing
some of the first vessels in Australia to be built to conform
with the IMO High Speed Craft code. It also uses U.S. company
Maritime Dynamics, Inc.'s computerized ride control systems exclusively
in its ferries and excursion vessels. WaveMaster has delivered
some 60 high speed aluminum vessels, including 34 monohulls.
In particular, it had excellent early success
in the Asian market, with deliveries to China, Hong Kong, Singapore,
and Japan. With the Asian collapse, however, WaveMaster, which
is owned by Malaysian interests, has been forced to regroup.
"We were caught on the wrong foot with Asia. That was our
bread and butter market," says Max Bamber Mayes, market
research and development manager. Now, Europe figures prominently
in WaveMaster's plans. Cutthroat competition with Asia has forced
WaveMaster to target larger fast freight vessels, as well as
other areas such as patrol boats and crew boats for the offshore
energy market. "The future of WaveMaster," says Mayes,
"is in larger car ferries. It's a natural progression for
us."
It recently secured two orders from European owners, including
its largest vessel to date-a 60 m car/passenger ferry that will
carry 300 passengers and 36 cars at service speeds of 40 knots.
The second order is for a triple-screw, 35 m, 270-passenger monohull
ferry.
Another order of significance is a 32 m, 300-passenger catamaran
for the Fullers Group of New Zealand. Wavemaster expects the
vessel to "become a benchmark for safety and environmental
friendliness in Auckland." It will operate in the busy and
congested Auckland Harbor. The 27-knot boat will be required
to have high maneuverability, low wake wash, and a maximum draft
of 1.6 m.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Originally established as Australian Shipbuilding Industries
(ASI) in 1968, Tenix Shipbuilding WA, Henderson, is the new kid
in the Australian fast ferry picture. As a division of Tenix
Defence Systems, Tenix Shipbuilding WA is part of one of Australia's
largest shipbuilding groups. Most recently, Tenix completed a
49 m x 16 m catamaran ferry capable of carrying 350 passengers
and 63 cars or 42 cars plus 4 trucks for Kangaroo Island Sealink.
Currently, it is constructing two search and rescue vessels for
the Philippines Coast Guard under a contract worth almost $A40
million.
Tenix is offering fast ferry designs ranging from a 40 m, 40 knots and 400 passenger cat to a 120 mmonohull accommodating up to 1,200 passengers and 200 cars
"We've only just decided to expand into the fast ferry market,"
says Richard Regan, Tenix manager, marketing marine. Regan, who
joined the shipbuilder from ferry operator Holyman, says the
yard plans to leverage its extensive defense technology.
It has already developed a design portfolio of high-speed passenger
and passenger/vehicle ferries. These designs range from a 40
m, 40 knot, 400-passenger aluminum catamaran for short coastal
or harbor commuter and tourist services to a 120 m monohull vessel
for short sea routes that can accommodate up to 1,200 passengers
and 200 cars or a combination of cars, coaches and freight vehicles.
"Clearly, there are niche opportunities
in adjacent markets to the U.S.," says Regan, citing Canada
and the Caribbean. Tenix has already had inquiries for a 40 m
cat from Asia and a larger ferry for Europe. He also sees continuing
opportunities in the patrol boat sector, particularly for EEZ
(exclusive economic zone) protection and search and rescue operations.
SBF Shipbuilders, Henderson, one of Western Australia's smaller shipyards that specialize in 20 to 40 m fast ferries, recently delivered a 31.7 m, 149 passenger tour boat Yukon Queen II to Alaskan operator HAL/Westours for an international route. "The vessel has created quite a bit of interest," says Graham Booth, SBF executive director, marketing and technical services. So much so, says Booth, that HAL/Westours is already discussing a second waterjet-powered catamaran.
GOING DUTCH
Another SBF-built vessel hitched a ride with two River Runner
200 ferries that were loaded as deck cargo in Cairns, Queensland,
for their trip to Rotterdam. The River Runner 200s were designed
and built by NQEA
Australia as part of a six vessel order for Holland's "Niewe
Wagen Over Water" project, an integrated river transport
system being developed to connect around the Drechtsteden and
Rotterdam area.
The Dutch ferry service is due to begin this November and will
be operated by two companies, HSF bv and Waterbus bv. Waterbus
bv ordered four 28 m River Runner 150 ferries from Damen Shipyards,
Gorinchem (Holland) and HSF bv ordered two 37 m River Runner
200 ferries from NQEA.
"The Dutch government is encouraging
operators to setup public water transportation systems to get
people off the road," says NQEA's Harrison. "The current
road system is at a gridlock stage."
As commuter boats, the River Runners are
required to have a quick turn around, berthing and embarking
passengers. NQEA designed a system of hinged gates/ramps and
automatic doors to allow quick access for bicycles and passengers.
Even more critically, all the ferries have
been designed and built with environmental limits on fuel consumption,
emissions, noise and wash. NQEA continues to build on its low
wash research. Its portfolio includes six minimum wash Rivercats
that operate from the Circular Quay adjacent to the Opera House
in Sydney Harbor.
Trials in Australia on the NQEA-built River
Runner 200 vessels achieved a top speed of 31 knots at a contract
deadweight of 16 tons, with engines running at their 90% blocked
output.
Harrison says the wash for the River Runner
200s measured during trials was "significantly less than
that required in our contract. The River Runner 200 has successfully
combined very low wash and high speed, using a conventional conservatively
rated propulsion system."
Harrison expects the company's proven experience in the field
of low wash ferries to be of particular interest to operators
in Germany, Holland, U.K. and France.
IMPROVING THE BREED
AND SIZING "UP" THE MARKET
Since proving the fast sea transport concept with the 74 m wave
piercer Hoverspeed Great Britain in 1990, Incat Tasmania has
been "following the feline instinct and improving the breed,"
says Incat Tasmania marketing manager Richard Lowrie.
What Lowrie means by this is Incat's constant refinement of earlier
generation wave piercer designs. Good examples of this are the
three Hales Trophy winners. The Hoverspeed Great Britain was
the first of three Incat-built wave piercers to win the coveted
Hales Trophy, awarded to the passenger vessel making the fastest
trans-Atlantic crossing. The Great Britain achieved an average
speed of 36.97 knots, making the voyage in 79 hours and 54 minutes.
It held the record until June 1998, when the 91 m Catalonia slipped
into the record books with a crossing time of 76 hours, 32 minutes,
and an average speed of 38.8 knots. Less than one month later,
however, the 91 m Cat-Link V shaved another 8 hours off the mark,
putting in a time of 68 hours and 9 minutes, with an average
speed of 41.284 knots.
Incat's refinements have not only allowed
for increased speed, but also increased useful deadweight. The
96 m Avemar, the first of Incat's Evolution 10 class of wave
piercers, for example, is almost capable of carrying its own
weight. The Roll-On/Roll-Off passenger ferry is designed to carry
850 passengers and 265 cars or a mix of 20 semi-trailers and
90 cars. It can achieve an impressive speed of 38 knots with
a deadweight of 675 tons. Bubquebus Espana SA operates the vessel
between Barcelona and the Balearic Islands.
Another Spanish operator, Lineas Fred.
Olsen SA, has ordered two Evolution 10 class fast freight ferries,
following the delivery of the 96 m Bonanza Express for Canary
Islands service earlier this year. "What we've been doing,"
says Lowrie, "is staying one step ahead of the competition."
Incat hopes to accomplish this by pushing
the envelope with the Revolution 120. This new 120 m wave piercer
catamaran will be designed with a deadweight capacity up to 1,250
tons and an operating speed of more than 50 knots. The Revolution
will achieve these speeds with four Solar Marine gas turbines
rated at 13 MW each and four Lips waterjets.
Lowrie also says Incat is exploring a 120 m, 200-passenger cruise ferry that will "bring a whole new concept to the market." One of the advantages of such a speedy platform would be its ability to increase the time spent in port, since it would have the ability to "race from port to port." To build these larger fast freight ferries and cruise ferries, Incat is investing in a new building hall. The Wilson's facility will be in full operation by next year and will be used to construct ships up to 150 m in length, with a panamax beam. Total under-cover building area will increase to 40,000 m3. Says Incat chairman Robert Clifford, "These ships will significantly affect world trade as they will be capable of carrying more cargo at higher speed than ever before."
U.S. NAVY KEEPS TABS
ON JERVIS BAY
Commercial operators aren't the only ones interested in fast
freight applications. The U.S. Navy is keeping close tabs on
the 86 m wave piercer HMAS Jervis Bay, which was recently chartered
by the Australian Defence Force. The Navy's interest, of course,
centers around fast deployment of troops and equipment. Currently,
the high speed vehicle ferry is providing support in East Timor.
On announcing the charter, Australian Minister
for Defence John Moore said, "this kind of vessel has significant
advantages in terms of its capabilities and flexibility. With
a top speed of around 40 knots, the catamaran can carry up to
500 fully equipped troops, plus stores, combat vehicles and supply
trucks."
Besides the interest from the U.S. Navy, Incat has also recently sold two fast passenger car ferries to Bay Ferries Ltd., Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. The 91 m, 900 passenger/250 car Cat operates between Bar Harbor, Maine, and Yarmouth. Bay Ferries also recently initiated Miami to Nassau and Miami to Freeport service with the 80 m wave piercer K3. The vessel can carry 400 passengers and 89 cars. ML
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