BMT Nigel Gee Contracts Penguin for Three Ferries

BMT Nigel Gee (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd., announced its latest contract with Singapore-based Penguin Shipyard International Pte. Ltd., for the design of three 38-meter monohull high-speed passenger ferries for the busy Singapore-Indonesia ferry route.

The shipbuilding subsidiary of Singapore-listed crewboat specialist Penguin International Limited recently signed a contract with Horizon Ferries Pte. Ltd. to build the three 238-passenger ferries, which will be deployed to run between Singapore and the Indonesian island of Batam. The first ferry is scheduled for delivery in the last quarter of 2014.

The collaborative approach leading up to the contract award is similar to that of an earlier project undertaken by Penguin Shipyard and BMT for a pair of 70-passenger, 30-knot Fast Crew Boats, which are scheduled for delivery later this year.

For the ferry project, BMT worked hand-in-hand with Penguin Shipyard’s in-house design, project and commercial teams throughout the bidding process to optimize the design to meet the client’s exacting requirements for the specific route and target cost.

The result is a highly economical design that will enable the fleet of vessels to provide a swift, safe and frequent service on the Singapore-Batam route. The design features main deck seating for 208 passengers and their luggage, as well as an upper deck VIP saloon for 30 passengers. The design also incorporates a spacious wheelhouse that has excellent all-round visibility for maximum safety in the congested waters of the Singapore Straits.

The Horizon ferries will fully comply with the 2000 High Speed Craft Code, flagged in Singapore and classed with Bureau Veritas.

Each vessel will be powered by a triple-engine configuration with three CAT C32’s, each driving a fixed pitch propeller - providing maximum operational flexibility and the most economical capital and operational cost matrix for the Horizon fleet.

bmtng.com

penguin.com.sg