Feature 3 | HIGH-SPEED VESSELS Inside Australia’s largest ferry
T e second of Incat’s landmark 112m Wave Piercing Catamarans, Natchan World, has been delivered to Japanese ferry giant Higashi Nihon Ferry.
C
reated by Revolution Design, the new ship joins her sister, Natchan Rera, in operation across Japan’s
Tsugaru Strait between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, approximately halving the time currently taken for voyages between Aomori and Hakodate by conventional ferries and greatly enhancing the convenience of regular passenger services. In service the vessels off er a crossing time of one hour and 45 minutes on the 61nm passage. Together, the two largest catamarans
ever built in Australia, provide greater seakeeping qualities and passenger comfort, even over the world-renowned Incat 98m class, on this oſt en turbulent crossing. Natchan World and her sister are
thought to be the largest, most fuel effi cient diesel-powered high-speed catamarans in the world, sailing at loaded speeds of approximately 40knots and with capacity to carry 355 cars or 450 lane metres of trucks and 193 cars. While Incat’s 112m design can accommodate up to 1200 persons, Natchan World’s accommodation has been custom designed and laid out to cater for 800 persons. With the delivery of Natchan World,
Higashi Nihon Ferry is fulfilling the second part of
its plan to expand the
prospect of its ferry business by changing from the existing cargo-centred strategy to the creation of a hospitality business with a
TECHNICAL PARTICULARS Natchan World
Length, oa .......................................112.60m Length, wl .......................................105.60 m Beam, hulls .........................................5.80 m Beam, moulded ................................30.50m Draught ......................approximately 3.93m Speed ............................................... 40knots Gross tonnage ................................10,841gt Net tonnage ......................................6264nt Deadweight ....................................1380dwt Capacity ...................................800 persons Vehicles .....................450truck lane metres plus 355 cars
Classifi cation
........Det Norske Veritas +1A1 HSLC R1 Car Ferry ‘B’ EO
40 Natchan World, the 112m Wave Piercing Catamaran leaving Hobart earlier this year.
high added value targeted at the customer. All public spaces on board the craſt have been geared towards providing passengers with a new travelling experience.
Fast ferry comfort Based on the Japanese-influenced design of Natchan Rera, the interior design of Natchan World comes from collaboration between Japan’s Idealogicdesign and Incat. Together they have worked to offer an interior of ambience, sophistication and individual character which will at the same time be functional and easy to maintain. T e passenger spaces onboard Natchan
World are located on two decks, tiers 4 and 3. T e latter is the main passenger deck, boasting three distinctive lounges, and is accessed from the vehicle decks, tiers 2 and 1, by stairways forward and aſt and, in a unique fi rst for high speed catamarans, also by Kone escalators port and starboard. Additionally, a TBV marine elevator is fi tted to provide barrier-free access between tiers 2, 3, and 4, ensuring passengers requiring assistance still enjoy all onboard facilities. Passengers entering the accommodation
via the escalators, or via shoreside gangways, arrive into the heart of the
craſt , the entrance lounge. T roughout the vessel the air of luxury is enhanced through extensive use of wood effect finishes bringing elegance to the fashionable interior and here, in the entrance lounge, this is no more evident where partition louvers are fabricated in aluminium with wood laminated fi nish, ensuring the lounge is 30% open to the adjacent lobby space. Located around the centrepiece
staircase and atrium is café style seating where passengers can sit around tables on Beurteaux Ocean Outdoor chairs. Adding to the space, on the port side is a circular café and bar with curved glass supported by a combination box and tube columns. Here, for passenger entertainment, four large LCD screens are installed. Separated by an ample galley, the café
is mirrored on the starboard side by a shop which again features large expanses of curved glass, ensuring that passengers may be tempted by a wide range of giſt s, magazines, books, and souvenirs.
Decorative themes For the flooring of the busy walkways around the café and shop Amtico tiles fi nished in marine fl orentine blues, wild cherry, and marine white maple, have
Ship & Boat International September/October 2008
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