Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Virtu Ferries News

07 Feb 2019

"Saint John Paul II" Delivered to Virtu Ferries

Photo: Incat

Incat delivered its latest large fast ferry, a 110-meter catamaran for Virtu Ferries of Malta dubbed Saint John Paul II.Saint John Paul II is the 44th large commercial fast ferry delivered by Incat and the sixth in excess of 5,500gt in the past decade; a decade also shared with 19 other Incat newbuilds of smaller passenger ferries and support vessels.“Using the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and hydrodynamic free-running model test techniques, the well proven Incat Wave Piercing Catamaran hullform has been further developed for Mediterranean winter conditions…

22 Dec 2018

Shipbuilding: New 110m Catamaran Named Saint John Paul II

Virtu Ferries ship launched at Incat. Photo: Incat

Shipbuilder Incat has launched the 110m vehicle / passenger ferry from the shipyard at Derwent Park in Hobart Tasmania. The ship will commence sea trials in mid January prior to delivery to her new owner Virtu Ferries for service between Malta and Sicily.Bearing the livery Saint John Paul II the vessel has been named in honor of the Pope who served from 1978 to 2005, so revered the Pope has often posthumously, but unofficially, been referred to by Catholics as "St. John Paul the Great".

22 May 2017

MTU Propulsion for High-speed Ferry

Photo: MTU

Rolls-Royce said it will supply four 20-cylinder Series 8000 engines from MTU to Australian shipyard Incat Tasmania. The engines will be installed in the new high-speed RoPax ferry to be used by the Virtu Ferries company on the Malta-Sicily service that it operates daily throughout the year. Set to be the largest high-speed catamaran operating in the Mediterranean, the vessel is 110 m in length and can accommodate 900 passengers plus crew and 167 vehicles on 490 truck lane meters.

09 May 2017

Fast Ferry Contract for Incat

Photo courtesy of Incat

Australian shipbuilder Incat has been awarded a contract for the design and construction of a large new vehicle-passenger ferry for a major European operator. The new vessel for Naviera Armas is the second vessel in Incat’s new generation 109 meter high speed wave piercing catamaran range and will operate in Spanish waters when delivered in early 2019. Born out of theIncat 112 meter, the concept was redesigned from the keel up by Incat’s in-house naval architects and engineers at Revolution Design Pty Ltd.

19 Apr 2017

High Speed Catamaran Powered by Wärtsilä Waterjets

The largest high speed catamaran to operate in the Mediterranean Sea will be powered by Wärtsilä waterjets. (Photo: Wärtsilä)

Wärtsilä has been contracted to provide the waterjets for a new high speed ferry being built by the Incat Tasmania yard in Australia for Malta based Virtu Ferries. When delivered, this vessel will be the largest high speed catamaran operating in the Mediterranean Sea, and will have a service speed of up to 38 knots. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in March 2017. The scope of supply covers four Wärtsilä LJX1500SRI waterjets and a Lipstronic control system. The equipment is scheduled to be delivered to the yard in April 2018 and the ship is to be delivered to the owners at the end of 2018.

07 Oct 2016

Incat to Build RoPax Vessel for Virtu Ferries

3D artist impression of the 110 meter ferry (Image: Incat)

Incat has been selected by Virtu Ferries of Malta to design and build a 110 meter vehicle passenger RoPax ferry. The new wave piercing catamaran will become the 15th fast ferry Virtu has acquired, it will be the largest high speed catamaran in the Mediterranean and with a service speed up to 38 knots it will complete the crossing from Malta to Sicily, berth to berth, in around 90 minutes. “Virtu Ferries is amongst the oldest, most respected and most discerning fast ferry operators in the world…

18 Oct 2013

Interferry Urges Proactive Approach to Industry Challenges

Johan Roos, Interferry’s executive director

More than 250 top-level delegates attended trade association Interferry’s 38th annual conference in Malta to debate the major factors affecting ferry operations around the world. Under a new format mixing presentations with panel discussions and audience input, the event underlined the diversity of political, technical, operational and commercial issues challenging the industry. Among several sessions focused on safety, a former airline pilot confirmed the alarming certainty of human error…

30 Aug 2010

Jean De La Valette Delivered To Virtu Ferries

Photo courtesy Austal

Mediterranean based operator Virtu Ferries recently took delivery of the 351 ft vehicle-passenger catamaran, Jean de la Vallete. The vessel marks a significant milestone for Austal being the largest catamaran built by Austal in Australia and its 24th commercial delivery to the Mediterranean region. The vessel will operate between Malta and Italy, and is designed to carry 800 passengers and 156 cars (or 45 cars and 342 truck lane metres) at an operational speed of up to 40 knots.

15 Sep 2009

Trinidad and Tobago Order Ferry Fleet

Photo courtesy Austal

In its third significant commercial order for the year, Austal will design and construct four 134.5 ft high speed passenger catamaran ferries for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Designed to carry 405 passengers at a speed of approximately 37 knots, the aluminium vessels are intended to help reduce road congestion in Trinidad and Tobago by establishing a water taxi service between San Fernando and Port of Spain in southwest Trinidad. The water taxi service is part of the Trinidad and Tobago Government’s “Vision 2020” strategy plan…

05 Jun 2009

Tognum to Supply Engines for New Ferry

The propulsion system and power generation specialist, Tognum, has won a contract for its Engines business unit from the Australian shipyard Austal to supply four large diesel engines. The 20V 8000 M71L-model MTU engines, each capable of 9,100 kW (12,376 PS), will provide the main propulsion for the new catamaran ferry Jean de la Valetta operated by Virtu Ferries from Malta. The vessel will also use four on-board gensets powered by S60 engines. Virtu Ferries operates high-speed catamaran ferry services between Italy and Malta.

29 Sep 2004

Austal Secures New Vehicle Ferry Order

Austal is pleased to announce a contract for a 67 metre high speed vehicle-passenger catamaran for Virtu Ferries of Malta adding to an already healthy order book for the West Australian shipbuilder. The new vessel is scheduled for delivery to Virtu Ferries in time for the European 2005 summer season and will have the capacity to carry 600 passengers and 65 cars or 95 lane metres of trucks plus 35 cars. Commenting on the contract Austal’s Managing Director, Mr Bob McKinnon said, “This latest order for a mid-sized car ferry is particularly pleasing in that it adds another important customer to our extensive list of clients. Established in 1988 Virtu Ferries operates fast ferry services between Malta and Sicily.

15 Feb 2006

Jumbo Cat Ferry Features Six Waterjets

The 68m catamaran Maria Dolores will shortly go into service with Malta-based Virtu Ferries on the company’s established Malta – Italy route, propelled by no fewer than six Kamewa waterjets, three in each hull. A speed of about 36 knots with the engines running at 90 per cent of full load will link Valetta with Catania in three hours, with Pozallo in 90 minutes and provide a service to the Italian mainland at Reggio Calabria in four hours. Maria Dolores was designed and built to a high standard by Austal in Western Australia to suit the owner’s requirement for a fast ferry capable of carrying trailers, coaches and other high vehicles together with cars and 600 passengers.

06 Feb 2006

Austal Delivers Ferry For Operation In Malta

Ferry passengers on the Malta-Italy route will be able to enjoy new delivery with the introduction of Maria Dolores, an Austal Auto Express 68 metre vehicle-passenger ferry for Virtu Ferries. Set to replace the existing 52 metre ferry, Maria Dolores will have additional capacity to carry 600 passengers and 65 cars or 95 lane metres of trucks plus 35 cars on a vehicle deck. This new vessel will operate on routes from Malta to Italy; Valetta to Catania in 3 hours, to Pozzallo in 90 minutes and Reggio Calabria (mainland Italy) in 4 hours. Designed specifically for these routes, with aft and side ramps for rapid turnaround and a Moulded Depth of 6.3 metres (approximately 20% higher than comparable size Austal ferries)…

03 Oct 2005

New Ferry Delayed

The new vessel Maria Dolores for Virtu Ferries, due for delivery in the middle of this year, will be delivered by Austal Ship in January, according to a report by the Malta Independent Online. The delay is reportedly due to a shortage of labour in Western Australia. The vessel will carry 600 passengers in two lounges, one Club Class, 65 cars/campers and 10 trucks/TIR/coaches. The vessel has a cruising speed of 36 knots; crossings to Pozzallo will take 90 minutes, Catania three hours and Reggio Calabria four hours and 30 minutes.