Incat and Austal ferries to maintain Trinidad and Tobago seabridge

Prominent Australian shipbuilders, Austal and Incat Tasmania, have ordered a total of eight MAN 16V28/33D STC engines in connection with the decision of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago to build one fast ferry at each yard.

Each vessel will be powered by 4 × MAN 16V28/33D STC units to provide high-speed passenger and vehicle operations on the seabridge between the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. At full speed, each engine will provide 7280 kW.

The Austal vessel will be 94 metres long and designed to carry 926 passengers and 250 cars at speeds of 37.5 knots. The ship will be built in Austal’s new shipyard in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

Incat’s 100-metre wave-piercing catamaran will be a new fast passenger/cargo ferry with the capacity for 1,000 persons and will carry 239 cars or a combination of trucks and cars with a service speed of 39.5 knots. Incat will build the vessel at its shipyard in Tasmania, Australia.

Lex Nijsen, Head of Four-Stroke Marine Sales, MAN Energy Solutions said: “MAN Energy Solutions has long had very good working relations with both Incat and Austal. With these orders, we have further strengthened our position as the leading engine provider for large, high-speed ferries. The MAN 28/33D STC type is the market segment’s most fuel-efficient engine, a vital consideration when a vessel’s fuel bill can easily account for 90% of its operating costs.”

Thomas Huchatz, Sales Manager, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “The 28/33D STC has been selected for seven of the last 14 large high-speed-ferry projects since 2015. This makes it the best-selling engine type in this competitive market segment and shows the confidence that ship operators have in MAN Energy Solutions’ product portfolio and extensive service network.”

MAN Energy Solutions has further announced that its after-sales division, MAN PrimeServ, will open a hub in Trinidad & Tobago to best support the operator.

About Austal

Austal is an Australian shipbuilder, defence prime contractor and maritime technology partner that designs, constructs and supports defence and commercial vessels for the world’s leading operators.

For over 30 years, Austal has designed and constructed over 300 vessels for over 100 operators in 54 countries, gaining a reputation for innovative shipbuilding using advanced technologies. The company has shipyards located in Australia, the United States of America, the Philippines and Vietnam as well as a global network of service centres. The company also has a stakeholding in a commercial shipbuilding joint venture known as Aulong, with Jianglong Shipbuilding in China.

About Incat

Incat Tasmania is known as a manufacturer of environmentally friendly, high-speed craft (HSC) multihull ferries as well as special service providers and military vessels.

With a continuing emphasis on eco-operations and fuel efficiency, Incat continues to develop lightweight, environmentally-friendly, fuel-efficient ships carrying heavier vehicle loads than ever before and at the lowest operational costs.

Incat’s shipyard is situated near Hobart, Tasmania.