Incat Crowther designs new generation tour vessel

MARCH 10, 2015 — A 220 passenger, 35 m catamaran currently under construction by Tasmanian shipbuilder Richardson Devine Marine (RDM) has been codeveloped by Incat Crowther and owner World Heritage Cruises (WHC).

The tour vessel will operate out of Strahan, on Tasmania’s picturesque Macquarie Harbor, and combines the operator’s layout and propulsion concepts with Incat Crowther’s naval architecture expertise.

The new vessel leverages on experience with six previous Incat Crowther-designed vessels that  WHC has operated on Macquarie Harbor, a World Heritage listed area.

Passengers enter the main deck cabin through a large central passageway, forward of which is a large food preparation area and bar. Lunch buffet serveries are located just aft of passenger seating, in a mixture of forward-facing and booth configurations, for 136 passengers.

The mid deck, which seats 82 passengers, is serviced by a pair of services supported by a dumb waiter.

Stairs on the starboard side of the vessel lead down to a children’s playroom.

The upper deck has a large open area for standing passengers, as well as the wheelhouse, which is recessed into the deck below to create a sleek appearance.

All seats have a large pitch for extra leg room and to allow good passenger circulation, while deep windows will give the cabins an open, airy feel and increase visibility of the surroundings.

World Heritage Cruises has specified an advanced propulsion package, consisting of four 850hp Scania main engines, driving a quartet of Sea Fury surface piercing drives. When combined with Incat Crowther’s hull form, this package will offer high efficiency and redundancy at a low draft, and propel the vessel to operating speeds in excess of 30 knots.

35 m CATAMARAN TOUR VESSEL

• Length Overall  117′ 4″ / 35.75 m
• Length Waterline 113′ 11″ / 34.7 m
• Beam Overall 29′ 7″ / 9.0 m
• Draft (max) 3′ 8″ / 1.1 m
• Depth 10′ 3″ / 3.1 m
• Construction Marine grade aluminumMain Engines  4 x Scania DI16 072M
• Power  4 x 850 hp @ 2300 rpm
• Propulsion  4 x Sea Fury SF38 Surface Piercing Drives
• Generators  2 x Isuzu 6BGIT, 2 x 90 kVA @50 Hz