By
Alex Smith |
Damen Shipyards is to supply five inshore ferries for tourists to the Zanzibar Archipelago, after the shipbuilder signed a contract with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport of the Government of Zanzibar.
Damen will construct three ships of the Damen Ferry 804 design and two of the 1204 design. At eight and 12 metres long respectively, the ferries can carry 30 and 70 people on the deck on benches. The propulsion systems are single waterjets that give an operational speed of around five knots.
The ferries are under construction at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in the Netherlands and are scheduled for delivery in July.
“We are very pleased to be continuing our strong relationship with the government of Zanzibar,” says Paul van der Werf, Damen’s area service director for Africa. “We recently delivered a new Damen Double Hull Oil Tanker 3500, together with a long-term service agreement and training package, and we are confident that these new inshore ferries will provide years of service supporting the local tourism industry. We have designed them to be ideal for light passenger traffic in warm, protected waters anywhere in the world, particularly in remote locations where support may not be immediately available.”
Damen will also provide a spare parts package for the first year of operation, as well as training for operating and maintaining the vessels.