By
Alex Smith |
Incat Tasmania has handed over a 76-metre high speed passenger catamaran, El Dorado Express, to South Korean operator Daezer Ferry.
The new ferry will operate for Daezer on the crossing between Pohang and Ulleungdo, an island 117 miles off the eastern coast of South Korea, supporting the needs of local residents and providing transport for tourists.
El Dorado Express left Hobart, Australia on 22 May to sail to Pohang under the control of her new crew, with an Incat electronics technician and mechanical engineer onboard.
“We are thrilled to introduce the El Dorado Express, a remarkable vessel that will navigate the challenging waters of the East Sea of Korea with unparalleled speed,” said Mr. Kim, CEO of Daezer Ferry. “In our quest to deliver the fastest ferry, we chose Incat as our partner, confident in their ability to provide the highest quality craftsmanship. We eagerly anticipate showcasing this extraordinary vessel to the people of Korea, and we are certain that it will exceed their expectations.”
El Dorado Express was designed by Revolution Design, and will feature Incat’s wave-piercing hull form and centre-bow arrangement. The vessel was able to reach up to 50.2 knots during its sea trials with 100 tonnes of deadweight and is equipped with four Caterpillar C280-16 engines that can each deliver 6,000 kilowatts of power. Each engine drives a steerable Kongsberg Kamewa S90-4 water jet via a Reintjes VLJ 4431 gearbox.
Accommodation onboard the ship is situated across two decks. Tier 1 offers seating for tourist passengers, along with a centrally located kiosk, food preparation area and bar. At the aft end of the Tier 1 deck, a room is provided for passengers wishing to travel with their pets, along with a crew mess and a room for patients being transferred from the island to the mainland. Forward of the tourist cabin is a 190 square metre cargo space, along with bicycle storage.
The Tier 2 deck, meanwhile, features 92 Eknes Pacific Sleeper-1400 VIP seats at its aft end. A bar divides the VIP area from the forward-facing business lounge, which includes 352 reclining seats from Eknes’ Supa Nova range. A services block houses male and female toilets as well as the lower wheelhouse electronics room.
The wheelhouse is situated on top of the passenger deck, offering views from raised helm seating. All instruments are fitted in dark grey and black consoles to aid night vision and minimise distraction. A separate ship’s office and lounge is located aft of the bridge, where crew can lay-out charts, plan voyages or relax.
Evacuation facilities comprise of four Liferaft Systems Australia Marine Evacuation Stations, two of which are located port side and two starboards.