Page 71: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 1992)

Large, Fast Ferries In

An Emerging Global Market by Marcus Gibson

The competition is heating up for the lion's share of the huge new global market in big, fast ferries, which some analysts believe could be worth $1 billion over the next decade.

Currently, the 75-meter long

SeaCat workhorses built by Inter- national Catamarans in Tasmania have a commanding lead in terms of tested technology and operational experience. Incat's pioneering ves- sels, all of which are based in Eu- rope, have grabbed a growing slice of the busy English Channel traffic for Hoverspeed, the company owned by U.S. shipping magnate James

Sherwood and his giant Sea Con- tainers line.

But now Incat's lead is being threatened. Two Italian yards,

Rodriquez Cantieri in Messina and

SEC in Viareggio, are both set to complete a high-speed ferry which measures more than 100-meters long, before the end of 1993.

In addition, there are at least 50 competing designs on offer from other European shipbuilders to the continent's 300-plus ferry compa- nies. The prize at stake is the ex- panding and truly global market for very large catamarans, water-jet powered vessels and surface-effect ships.

Europe's ferry builders, concen- trated in Norway and Italy, expect a flood of orders in the near future, says Alan Blunden, editor of Fast

Ferry International. "The dam wall is groaning," he said. "We are in a similar position as the airlines were with the first

Boeing 707s. As soon as one leading operator makes an order the rest will do the same, if only to secure a delivery position."

But the two Italian yards are pressing ahead without buyers.

Since Europe's usually conservative shipping companies remain reluc- tant to be the first to try out new technology, the Italians will use the craft themselves as owner-operators, in effect pre-dating the market.

Italian yard Rodriquez intends to hand over its elegant fast ferry, named Aquastrada, to its Aliscafi high-speed vessel division on comple- tion.

Rodriquez already operates more than 30 hydrofoils. SEC is to start a joint venture with Italy's state ferry company and put its new flagship on the busy routes to Sardinia in time for the 1994 summer season. "While the SeaCats can equal con- ventional hydrofoil speeds of around 35 knots," Mr. Blunden said, "big water-jet craft such as Aquastrada will achieve 50 knots, even when carrying 750-plus passengers and 200 cars."

Now German shipbuilder Blohm + Voss has entered the fray by pro- moting its fast ferry prototype, the 60-meter long Corsair600. Aspokes- man said the company expects an order "within the next six months."

With hundreds of ferry routes in

Europe, a land mass fractured by elongated peninsulas, deep fjords

A GE LM2500 gas turbine was selected to power the SEC 750 SES ferry from Societa

Esercizo Cantieri Shipyard.

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