Austal Ships has signed a contract with Venezuelan ferry operator Conferry to build an 86m high-speed roro passenger catamaran. According to Austal?s managing director, Bob McKinnon, the contract reflects a marked improvement in the fast ferry market. The vessel will operate at a speed of approximately 40 knots and will have the capacity to carry 800 passengers and 243 cars. Principal dimensions are an overall length of 86.6m, moulded beam of 24m and hull draught of 3.2m. The propulsion package comprises 4 Caterpillar 3618 engines, 4 Reintjes VLJ6831 gearboxes and 4 Kamewa 112 SII waterjets. Classification is by Germanischer Lloyd. The newbuilding will operate daily on the route between La Guaira, the port for Caracas, and Margarita Island, a duty-free Venezuelan island in the Caribbean. The route provides a direct connection between Caracas airport and Margarita Island. It eliminates a four-hour drive to the old conventional ferry terminal for Caracas residents. The ferry is due for delivery in July 2002. It is the second contract between Conferry and the Australian fast ferry builder. Austal delivered Carmen Ernestina, an Auto Express 86m high speed catamaran, to Conferry in June 1999. "We are particularly excited by this repeat order for Conferry as it demonstrates Austal?s ability to meet the customer?s needs and provide a solution for their transportation equirements," said MacKinnon. "Conferry are delighted with the performance of their first Auto Express catamaran and were confident in choosing Austal to construct a second vessel and expand their high speed ferry fleet."

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