By
Alex Smith |
Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania has delivered a 111-metre catamaran ferry named Volcán de Taidía to Spanish ferry operator Naviera Armas.
The vessel has departed the shipyard for the Canary Islands, sailing across the Pacific Ocean and through the Panama Canal before crossing the Atlantic to her destination. Naviera Armas will operate the vessel between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Volcán de Taidía will be the sixth vessel built by Incat operating in Naviera Armas’ fleet. She is also the second newbuild direct from the shipbuilder, along with her sister ship Volcán de Tagoro.
“We are delighted to have a new sister ship of the catamaran Volcán de Tagoro whose excellent performance and benefits have raised the quality of maritime transport to its highest level,” said Antonio Armas Sr., owner of Naviera Armas. “This is why, upon the introduction of the new Volcán de Taidía, Naviera Armas will reinforce the ‘sea bridge’ between both Canary Islands capitals with two latest generation high speed craft.”
Volcán de Taidía has capacity for 1,200 people including crew, and the vehicle deck allows for almost 600 truck lane metres and 219 cars. Passenger spaces are divided into three classes – first, business and economy – each of which offers bars and food service areas. She is powered by four MAN 20V diesel engines driving Wärtsilä waterjets and achieved over 42 knots with 600 tonnes of deadweight during speed trials.
Both vessels will operate out of the new private port facility located in the centre of the Canary Islands at Las Palmas and developed by Naviera Armas in 2019. Nelson Mandela Pier is the first privately financed passenger terminal in a Spanish state-owned port. Export Finance Australia and P Capital Partners aided with financial support for the transaction.
“The original vision of Naviera Armas was to facilitate high-speed movement for passengers, cars and trucks between the two main cities in the Canary Islands, Las Palmas and Tenerife,” said Tim Burnell, CEO of Incat Tasmania. “The one concern Antonio Armas Sr. had was that this is one of the most exposed routes in the Canary Islands. Volcán de Tagoro has proven it can operate a highly reliable year-round crossing on the route and the delivery of Volcán de Taidia is a resounding vote of confidence in the hull design refinements implemented in 2019.”