Ferry Infrastructure News

Keel laying and steel-cutting ceremonies for two new ferries being built for Scotland's Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) were held this week at Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Turkey.The first ferry in the production timeline has had its keel laid, while steel-cutting for the second vessel has also begun – three weeks earlier than planned.The new, 94.8-meter vehicle/passenger ferries will each have capacity for up to 450 passengers and 100 cars or 14 commercial vehicles…

As part of a presidential plan to reduce urban congestion and greenhouse gas emissions in the Ivory Coast city of Abidjan, 16 new passenger ferries have been ordered by Société de Transport Lagunaire (STL). Known as the economic capital of the Ivory Coast, Abidjan is located around the 100-km long Ébrié Lagoon on the west coast of Africa and therefore water-based transport holds a vital position in everyday life in the area. Furthermore, due to rapid population growth and the deterioration of existing ferry services, traffic congestion is a major problem in the city.

Industry Minister James Moore told CTV’s Question Period, yesterday, that Canadians will soon be seeing “very large-scale [infrastructure] announcements in every part of the country.”  Moore went on to say that these investments will benefit Canadians and increase productivity. Responsible for moving more than 55 million people, 19 million vehicles and millions of tons of goods annually, Canada’s ferries are a pivotal component of the nation’s infrastructure system, the Canadian Ferry Operators Association (CFOA) said, adding that further investments in ferry infrastructure would benefit productivity and Canadians. Remote Communities. For some isolated regions, ferries are the only means for transporting goods and people and accessing emergency medical services. Public Transit.

The Canadian Ferry Operators Association (CFOA) has said it welcomed Prime Minister Harper’s announcement of the framework for the New Building Canada Plan (NBCP). Details were also released on the New Building Canada Fund (NBCF), the $14-billion component of the NBCP that will support infrastructure projects of national, regional and local significance that promote job creation and economic growth. “The Harper government has clearly demonstrated its commitment to developing and renewing Canada’s transportation infrastructure through this $53 billion investment,” said Serge Buy, CEO of CFOA.

Hawaii Superferry signed a historic agreement with Austal USA that proposes bringing the world’s newest passenger-vehicle catamarans to Hawaiian waters for the development of a commercial high-speed interisland ferry service in Hawaii. Hawaii Superferry plans to use Austal USA-built, high-speed, roll-on/roll-off vessels to create “Hawaii’s Interisland Highway,” with state-of-the-art Austal USA catamarans carrying passengers, vehicles and freight between Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island, beginning in 2006. Under the agreement, Hawaii Superferry plans to purchase two 340-foot catamaran ferry vessels from Mobile, AL-based Austal USA for delivery during 2006-2008 under an exclusive, strategic relationship.

Hawaii Superferry and Austal USA last month signed an agreement that could result in new passenger-vehicle catamarans for Hawaiian waters to create a commercial high-speed interisland ferry service. Hawaii Superferry plans to use Austal USA-built, high-speed, RoRo vessels to create "Hawaii's Interisland Highway," with catamarans carrying passengers, vehicles and freight between Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island, beginning in 2006. Under the agreement, Hawaii Superferry plans to purchase two 340-ft. "For many years, I have envisioned 'a marine highway' for our islands, so I am pleased with the progress that Hawaii Superferry has made in creating an interisland ferry system that will serve Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island," said Senator Daniel K.