Ship & Boat International: eNews April 2017
Singapore-based shipbuilder and repair specialist SAM Aluminium has delivered the first two in a series of four catamaran ferries to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).
Measuring 20.45m loa (or 20.2m lwl), with a beam of 6.5m, a depth of 2.2m and a draught of 1m, each of the Nigeria-flagged sister ferries, christened Confidence 1 and Confidence 2, has been built to a design supplied by Incat Crowther and features the capacity to carry up to 50 offshore technicians, along with their luggage and cargo, as well as four crewmen. The vessels, and their forthcoming two sisters, will transfer workers between Nigeria and Bonny Island, the latter being home to an LNG plant.
The aluminium vessels have been designed to meet Bureau Veritas’ NR396 rules for the classification of high-speed craft and NR566 requirements for hull arrangement, stability and systems for ships of less than 500gt. As a result, both Confidence 1 and Confidence 2 will be able to operate in Sea Area 2 zones and in sea states featuring wave heights of up to 2.5m, whilst retaining stability. Their low draughts, meanwhile, will assist the ferries when they enter shallow sections of water.
Additional features include: an exterior aft deck, offering 25m² of cargo storage space; a main cabin, replete with 50 seats, which the technician passengers can access via the aft deck; and a half-height wheelhouse, which, Incat Crowther claims, “is accessed directly from the forward crew space, enhancing security”.
Power is provided by twin Caterpillar C18 Acert engines, each rated 599kW at 2,100rpm, which drive a pair of Hamilton HJ403 waterjets, resulting in a service speed of 28knots, increasing to 30knots max. Each ferry has also been fitted with a Caterpillar C2.2 generator. Tankage capacities include 3,000litres of fuel oil and 500litres of fresh water.
At time of writing, Incat Crowther tells Ship & Boat International that the third vessel in the series entered the water in late March, while the fourth vessel is scheduled to be launched by the beginning of May.
