Incat Australia News

Two US Army Blackhawk helicopters created history recently with the first landings on board a US Army vessel since the Vietnam War. After a break of 30years, the Blackhawks touched down on the deck of US Army vessel HSV-X1 Joint Venture at 10.57 am (Korean time) on Thursday 25 March, 2004. HSV-X1 Joint Venture, built at the Hobart shipyard of Incat Australia, has been on lease to the US military since late 2001. The high speed ship completed a major refit at the Tasmanian Incat yard in late 2003 and is now stationed in Hawaii under the command of US Army Pacific.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., will relocate its research and development engineering office from Slidell, La., and shift the Bollinger high-speed vessels group from Lockport, to the James Business Park in St. Rose, La., in October 2004. Mike Ellis, Bollinger executive vice-president and chief operating officer said, "This new location in St. Rose will not only help us better serve our current shipyards from a design and engineering standpoint, but it will also help us attract potential employees to fill our future growth plans. The Slidell research and development office, Bollinger Northshore Engineering, about 45 miles east of the new facility, opened about five years ago. It creates and develops innovative design solutions for commercial and government clients.

In the fall of 1999, the situation in East Timor was tense. The United Nations mission was cut off from reinforcement and resupply, with 430 miles of open ocean between the chaotic Indonesian island and the UN's nearest supply base in Darwin, Australia. Then the Royal Australian Navy's Jervis Bay, a fast ferry built by INCAT Australia Pty., Ltd. and chartered by the Navy, came to the rescue. Making hundreds of crossings in an average of 11 hours for each trip, with an average speed of 43 knots fully loaded, the 292-ft. wave-piercing catamaran's performance "stunned" the United States Seventh Fleet representatives attached to the UN mission, according to RAN personnel.

Long hailed for its innovative "fast cat" vessels that were developed by Robert Clifford and Phil Hercus in the 1980's Incat Australia delivered not a new cat last month, but news of an impending bankruptcy. Could this be the end of the fast cats that have dominated the aluminum shipbuilding world for the past 20 years? During the first week of March the Hobart shipyard admitted that it was suffering from financial difficulties, and responded by laying off several hundred employees. In fact, according to Australian news sources, the yard has 1,000 less employees than it did one year ago — despite having won an $80 million contract from the U.S. Military for a 101-m high speed support vessel — transporting American troops throughout the Japanese Islands for the next three years.

Bollinger Shipyards and Incat Australia have come to an agreement to market and build high speed vessels to Incat designs in the U.S. Known for its K Class aluminum catamarans, Incat has to date built more than 40 percent of the worldwide fleet of high-speed passenger ferries more than 230 ft. (70 m). The two companies have been working together on a proposal to an unnamed owner for a unique wave-piercing vessel that can transport 500 passengers and various vehicles at speeds of more than 40 knots. The design resembles that of the Incat Tasmania, which includes two slender aluminum hulls connected by a bridging section with a center bow structure at the forward end. One 282 ft.

In a move which signals the long-awaited fast craft boom in the United States is about to begin, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., and INCAT AUSTRALIA Pty. Ltd. signed an agreement for Bollinger to market and build high speed craft to INCAT designs in the United States. The deal is significant in that earlier this year chief INCAT rival Austal Ships struck a deal with Mobile, Ala.-based Bender Shipbuilding to build a new shipyard in Mobile for the same purpose. INCAT is privately owned and is the innovator and builder of the world speed record holding Wave Piercing and K Class aluminum catamarans. The 27 year-old company has built over 30, or approximately 40% of the worldwide fleet of high-speed passenger ferries over 230 feet (70M) in length.

In a move which signals the long-awaited fast craft boom in the United States is about to begin, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., and INCAT AUSTRALIA Pty. Ltd. signed an agreement for Bollinger to market and build high speed craft to INCAT designs in the United States. The deal is significant in that earlier this year chief INCAT rival Austal Ships struck a deal with Mobile, Ala.-based Bender Shipbuilding to build a new shipyard in Mobile for the same purpose. INCAT is privately owned and is the innovator and builder of the world speed record holding Wave Piercing and K Class aluminum catamarans. The 27 year-old company has built over 30, or approximately 40% of the worldwide fleet of high-speed passenger ferries over 230 feet (70M) in length.

In a move that signals the long-awaited fast craft boom in the United States is about to begin, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., and Incat Australia Pty. Ltd. signed an agreement for Bollinger to market and build high speed craft to Incat designs in the United States. The deal is significant in that earlier this year chief Incat rival Austal Ships struck a deal with Mobile, Ala.-based Bender Shipbuilding to build a new shipyard in Mobile for the same purpose. Incat is privately owned and is the innovator and builder of the world speed record holding Wave Piercing and K Class aluminum catamarans. The 27-year-old company has built more than 30, or approximately 40 percent of the worldwide fleet of high-speed passenger ferries over 230 ft. in length.

Incat Australia announced that the fast ferry, ‘The Cat’, has been Time Chartered by Bay Ferries of Canada to the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago. ‘The Cat’, which operates on the 85 nautical mile route between Port of Spain and Scarborough, entered commercial service on January 10, 2005. After more than three years of investigating tonnage options, involving the Tobago House of Assembly, the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago, the Ministry of Transport and Works, the Government Shipping Service and several technical sub committees…

Incat Australia announced that the fast ferry, ‘The Cat’, has been Time Chartered by Bay Ferries of Canada to the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago. ‘The Cat’, which operates on the 85 nautical mile route between Port of Spain and Scarborough, entered commercial service on the January 10. After more than three years of investigating tonnage options, involving the Tobago House of Assembly, the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago, the Ministry of Transport and Works, the Government Shipping Service and several technical sub committees…

In mid 2006 Wärtsilä Corporation introduced the new LJX axial water jets for the propulsion of fast vessels with promises of a 25% reduction in transom mounting flange diameter, a 10% overall reduction in weight and a 35% improvement in cavitation margin. These benchmarks were reportedly met when the first LJX waterjet units were put through full-scale trials in July 2007. These were LJX 1500 size units of 9000 kW capacity. LJX water jets in the size range from 1800 to 22,000 kW have been ordered. The Australian engineering consultancy firm Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd (SKM) was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive test programme to map various jet performance parameters throughout the trials.

The transit between Long Beach and Catalina Island will be reduced to "well under" one hour when the "Jet Cat Express" joins the Catalina Express fleet. "This will take place before Memorial Day," according to Greg Bombard, president of the California company. The 381-passenger, 145-foot, 39-knot catamaran ferry was delivered to Catalina Express in ceremonies on Whidbey Island, Washington, on April 28. The vessel, designed by International Catamarans Designs, Ltd., (Incat) Australia, was the 26th passenger catamaran built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Inc., for U.S. service since the program began in 1983. Meanwhile, Nichols Brothers is building two other Incat catamarans for the San Francisco bay area.

A contract has been exchanged for the sale of Incat Australia’s 98m catamaran, hull 058, to a European customer. The purchaser is a long term Incat customer, and intends for 058 to join its two existing Incat vessels in operation for the northern European summer. Announcing the sale to staff at the Hobart shipyard, Incat Australia Managing Director, Craig Clifford said “The sale of vessel 058 has been foreshadowed for some time, and is great news for all Incat staff and supporters. The ship will be painted in the company’s colours over the next few weeks and is expected to depart Hobart for Europe in late April. The Evolution 10b design of hull 058 delivers proven technology in a vessel capable of carrying a mix of passengers and freight at speeds over 40 knots.

Known for its sleek, fast and high-performance wave-piercing catamarans, Incat Australia expanded its reach to U.S. shores with its decision last year to partner with Lockport, La.,-based Bollinger Shipyards for the construction and design of a new breed of high speed, aluminum fast craft for operation in the U.S. Wanting to break into the U.S. military market, Bollinger Incat USA is poised to establish a new breed of fast ferry construction that will meet the needs of the U.S military forces. The company also plans to position its vessels as a means to alleviate traffic on highways with its plan for high-speed, high-performance freight vessels, which will be able to carry a mix of semi-trailers and freight vehicles.

Incat Australia Pty. Ltd. is widely regarded as a premier builder of high-speed ferries, and that reputation was enhanced with the production of three wave-piercer catamarans, which hold the distinction of being the fastest ships ever to cross the Atlantic. The two latest, Catalonia and Cat-link V, are from Incat's line of 299 ft. wave-piercer class of fast-ferry vessels. They made their individual record-breaking journeys across the Atlantic within weeks of each other, at average speeds of 39 knots and 41 knots, respectively. The wave-piercer fast-ferry vessels have been launched from Incat docks in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, since September 1997.

Incat Australia Pty. Ltd. is widely regarded as a premier builder of high-speed ferries, and that reputation was enhanced with the production of three wave-piercer catamarans, which hold the distinction of being the fastest ships ever to cross the Atlantic. The two latest, the Catalonia and the Cat-link V are from Incat's line of 299 ft. (91 m) wave-piercer class of fast-ferry vessels. They made their individual record-breaking journeys across the Atlantic within weeks of each other, at the average speeds of 39 knots and 41 knots, respectively. The wave-piercer fast-ferry vessels have been launched from Incat docks in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, since September 1997.

Incat received the award for Most Significant New Build-Fast Ferry at The Cruise and Ferry Exhibition and Conference held in London. The award was presented to builders Incat and owners Bollinger/Incat USA for the US Army Theater Support Vessel TSV-1X Spearhead at a gala dinner at the Hilton London Metropole. Shipping professionals crowned the 98 metre Spearhead as the ship most deserving of the title amidst fierce competition from other nominees, including: Austal Ships and EuroFerrys for EuroFerrys Pacifica; HDW and Superfast Ferries for the medium speed ships Superfast IX + X and Austal Ships and New World Fast Ferry for New Ferry LXXXI / LXXXII / LXXXIII.

Incat received the award for Most Significant New Build - Fast Ferry, at the biennial event for the ferry, fast ferry and cruise industry, The Cruise and Ferry Exhibition and Conference, held in London in mid-May. The award was presented to builders Incat and owners Bollinger/Incat USA for the 322-ft. U.S. Army Theater Support Vessel TSV-1X Spearhead. Incat Australia Pty Ltd. Managing Director Craig Clifford said "Incat to some extent were 'reigning champions' having also taken the Most Significant New Build - Fast Ferry award at the last Cruise & Ferry event in 2001 with the 96 m Evolution 10 Benchijigua Express for Fred. In November 2002, when Incat delivered Spearhead for service with the U.S. Army, expectations were high.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., has promoted and/or assigned new responsibilities to the following members of its management team in order to meet the demands of increased business, new products, expanded services and new technologies according to Donald T. "Boysie" Bollinger, chairman and CEO of the Lockport, La., headquartered shipbuilding and repair company. Mike Ellis has been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of the company. "Mike's leadership ability and strategic vision has afforded him the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities within our organization", said Boysie Bollinger. Ellis joined Bollinger in 1998 as chief financial officer and will now be responsible for the overall operations of the company.