The second of two high speed vehicle-passenger catamarans for Hawaii Superferry has been launched at Austal USA – further strengthening the shipyard’s experience in advanced aluminium vessels over 100 metres in length.
The achievement comes just months after Austal USA successfully launched its revolutionary 127 metre Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) “Independence” – a state-of-the-art near-shore combat ship built for the US Navy.
With a service speed of 40 knots and the capacity to transport 866 passengers and 282 cars, the high speed catamaran joins sister vessel “Alakai” – which was delivered to Hawaii Superferry last year – as the largest aluminium catamaran ever built in the US.