The 82-metre auto express catamaran Boomerang, built for Polish Baltic Shipping Co (Polferries), has set out on an 11,000-nautical-mile delivery voyage from Australia to Poland.
The vessel, built by Austal Ships in Fremantle, will enter service next month between Swinoujscie in Poland and Malmo, Sweden. It will cut the nine-hour crossing time by almost two thirds.
The 340 deadweight tonne vessel with a service speed of 38 knots will be the fourth auto express to enter service in Europe since April last year. The other three were built for Denmark's DSB Rederi, Germany's TT-Line and Sweden's SweFerry/DSO partnership.
The next two 82-metre designs will be ready for delivery in November this year and April 1998.
With eight main-deck and six mezzanine-deck lanes, the Boomerang can carry 175 cars or alternatively 10 buses and 70 cars. The main deck has seating facilities for 600, while the bridge deck has 100 seats reserved for business-class travellers.
