Ferries to be Sold at Unreserved International Auction
Three PacifiCat-class fast ferries capable of carrying 1,000 passengers and 250 vehicles at speeds of up to 34 knots will be sold at an international, unreserved public auction March 24 at Canada Place, Vancouver, by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. The 400-ft. (122-m) aluminum vessels, PacifiCat Explorer, PacifiCat Discovery and PacifiCat Voyager, are among the largest catamaran fast ferries in the world, and were designed by Phil Hercus of Incat Designs, Sydney, Australia, and built in British Columbia, Canada, in March 1999, September 1999 and July 2000 respectively. Current owner BC Ferries has determined that the vessels, which have seen very little service, are not suited to the high level of commercial trucks and buses on its ferry routes.
PVA:Three PacifiCat-class Fast Ferries on the Block
Three PacifiCat-class fast ferries capable of carrying 1,000 passengers and 250 vehicles at speeds of up to 34 knots will be sold at an international, unreserved public auction at 11:00 a.m. PST on March 24, 2003 at Canada Place, Vancouver, by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. The 400-ft. (122-m) aluminum vessels, PacifiCat Explorer, PacifiCat Discovery and PacifiCat Voyager, are among the largest catamaran fast ferries in the world. Engineered to the highest technical and performance standards, they were designed by Phil Hercus of Incat Designs, Sydney, Australia, and built in British Columbia, Canada, in March 1999, September 1999 and July 2000 respectively.
Pacificat Trials For Potential Buyers
BC Ferries’ PacifiCat Explorer will be operated on limited trials between the end of January and early March to enable interested buyers to experience the vessels in operation. The trials will be conducted between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay and will be open to legitimate, potential bidders only. Interested buyers must contact Ritchie Bros. at (604) 273-7564 to participate in the trials. Additional trials will also be made available to registered bidders who have made a deposit of $2 million US. On January 9, BC Ferries announced that Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers had been selected to sell the three PacifiCat fast ferries at an international unreserved auction in Vancouver on March 24, 2003. Marine consultant, Stephen Phillips, managing director of Seaspeed Technology Limited, of the U.K.
