European Union governments urged the European Defense Agency (EDA) on January 24 to examine whether high-speed ferries could be used to more rapidly move troops into conflict zones. The idea is based on a system used by the Australian Navy from 1999 to transport troops and equipment to East Timor from the northern city of Darwin using a large commercial catamaran. The 86-meter (282-foot) Jervis Bay catamaran was chartered to the Australian Navy for two years and made 107 trips between Darwin and the Timorese capital Dili, traveling at around 43 knots — roughly an 11-hour voyage. During that time, it carried some 20,000 passengers and 430 military vehicles, and moved about 5,600 tons of equipment and stores.