Ares Shipyard to build eight ferries for Doha resort

JANUARY 7, 2014 — Ares Shipyard, Antalya, Turkey, is to build eight 18 m x 6.7 m ferries to shuttle guests between Doha, Qatar, and the Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa, 11 km east of Doha.

Designed by BMT Nigel Gee, Southampton, U.K., the composite hull catamaran ferries will be able to carry up to 51 passengers in comfort and style. Business class seating and refreshment facilities are provided on board, within a fully air conditioned passenger saloon.

The vessels will be capable of a maximum speed of 27 knots, and a general service speed of 22 knots so that a typical transit time from Doha to the resort will be in the region of 16 minutes.  In order to support the opening of the resort, Ares Shipyard will deliver the first two vessels in February 2014 – only five months after being awarded the contract.  The remaining six vessels will be delivered within 18 months thereafter.

“There are very few design companies who are able to develop robust design solutions, as well as provide suitable levels of support during such an aggressive build schedule,” says Kerim Kalafatoglu, Managing Director of Ares Shipyard explains. “Ares chose BMT Nigel Gee after successful collaboration on other recent design and build projects.”