Guadeloupe Operator Orders Repeat Austal Ferries

Guadeloupe-based ferry operator L’Express des Iles has selected Austal to design and construct two 154-ft high speed catamaran ferries. The order consists of one vehicle-passenger ferry and one passenger ferry, and is the company’s third contract with Austal since 1997.

The vessels are intended to operate from Guadeloupe to the Caribbean islands of Marie Galante, Dominique, Martinique and St Lucia, where they will provide an important inter-island link for tourism and trade. The vehicle ferry will have the capacity for 364 passengers and 10 cars. The passenger ferry will have the capacity for 437 passengers. Both vessels will have a maximum speed of more than 32 knots and are designed to also carry cargo.

L’Express des Iles currently operates Austal-built ferries Gold Express and Silver Express, which were delivered in 2005. Compared to the four-engine arrangements of L’Express des Iles’ previous deliveries, the new vessels will each be powered by two MTU 16V4000 M71 diesel engines driving Kamewa 71 SIII waterjets. The new vessels will be built at Austal’s Western Australian facility and are scheduled for delivery in mid-2011.

Principal Particulars:
Length, o.a.    154 ft
Length, w.l.    135 ft
Beam, moulded    36.4 ft
Depth, moulded    13 ft
Hull draft    5.9 ft

Capacity:
Vehicle-Passenger Ferry
Passengers    364
Vehicles    10 cars
Cargo    17 crates
Passenger Ferry
Passengers    437
Cargo    15 crates

Propulsion:
Main engines    2 x MTU 16V4000 M71 diesel engines
Waterjets    2 x Kamewa 71S3NP

Performance:
Speed    >32 knots

Classification:
Bureau Veritas
1 X HULL X MACH X AUT-CCS, HSC - Cat. A
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