Designed and built specifically for harsh Norwegian weather conditions and to meet the service requirements of isolated communities, Image Marine’s first vessels for the European market present a new benchmark for the Australian shipbuilder. Built for leading ferry operator Ofotens og Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab asa (OVDS) and named “Salten” and “Steigtind”, the passenger-cargo catamarans will operate out of the far northern port of Bodø. Capable of 35 knots and with capacity for 214 passengers and 30 Euro pallets (12 tonnes) of refrigerated cargo, the 41.3 metre vessels provide not only a passenger service, but also the only transportation link for travel and supplies between many small islands and the mainland.