Australian shipbuilder Incat has received a contract for the design and construction of a large vehicle-passenger ferry for the Canary Islands-based shipping company Naviera Armas.
The contract price is EUR 74 million (USD 80.7 million) and the construction of the vessel is expected to commence in June 2017, Incat said.
As disclosed, the ferry will operate in Spanish waters when delivered in early 2019.
The newbuilding will be the third Incat ship to join the Naviera Armas fleet, following Volcán de Tirajana purchased in 2015 and Volcán de Teno acquired last year.
“It is very hard to find quality second hand high speed ferries in the market, nevertheless given the performance of the two Incat-built vessels already purchased we are confident the wait for the newbuild 109 metre will be well worth it. This new Incat 109 metre will provide a service speed of 35 knots (65km/h) and accommodate 1,200 persons including 155 persons in business class,” Antonio Armas, Armas’ CEO , explained.
“It will also be the first high speed ferry in southern Europe to feature a dual vehicle deck allowing cars and freight to be transported separately. The main deck has capacity for 595 truck lane metres with a 4.6 metre clear height and the upper deck will accommodate 215 cars,” Armas added.