Incat Crowther cat now operating 21 mile Honduras route

Utila Dream

JANUARY 28, 2016 — Utila Dream, a 244 passenger Incat Crowther design catamaran ferry built by Midship Marine’s Harvey, LA, shipyard is now operating in Honduras after delivery from the shipbuilder on its own bottom.

Designed specifically for rough water operation, the 30 m Utila Dream serves a 21 mile route between  the island of Utila and themainland city of La Ceiba.

Larger, faster and far more capable than previous vessels used on the route, Utila Dream is a vital lifeline to the mainland. Reliability has been a main design priority and Incat Crowther has addressed it through robust engineering, the selection of a main engine arrangement delivering the required service speed at low MCR and a simple machinery and drive train package.

The ferry’s two Cummins KTA38 main engines are rated at 1,007 kW at 1,900 rpm, giving the  vessel a service speed of 28 knots at 75% MCR.

Utila Dream is fitted with wet and dry cargo rooms aft, loaded via three lifting ramps on each side of the vessel. The aft ramps serve the cargo rooms, while the remaining ramps serve passenger spaces with all passenger movement being segregated from freight movement.

The main deck cabin provides seats for 112 passengers. A pair of forward doors leads past the forward boarding ramps to the foredeck, where an additional 32 outdoor seats are located.

The upper deck is served by stairs ports and starboard, adjacent to the aft passenger ramps. A total of 82 exterior passengers are seated on this deck, with a bar located forward. Forward of this is a VIP cabin with 18 large executive-style seats.

• Length Overall   99′ 9″ / 30.3 m
• Length Waterline   95′ 9″ / 29.2 m
• Beam Overall   26′ 3″ / 8.0 m
• Draft (hull)   3′ 2″ / 1.0 m
• Draft (prop or max)   4′ 2″ / 1.27 m
• Depth   10′ 2″ / 3.1 m
• Construction   Marine grade aluminum
• Speed (Service)   28 knots
• Speed (Max)   31 knots
• Main Engines  2 x Cummins KTA38
• Power  2 x 1007 kW @ 1,900 rpm
• Propulsion  2 x five-bladed propellers
• Generators  2 x 30 kVaFlag  Honduras
• Class / Survey   USCG Subchapter T