Western Australian shipbuilder Austal's first mid-size fast ferry of the Auto Express range of vehicle-passenger catamarans is set to enter service in the French Caribbean.
The catamaran - named the Jade Express - was delivered to L'Express des Iles, the French Caribbean fast-ferry operation of French maritime group Compagnie Chambon, to provide inter-island connections between Pointe a Pitre on the island of Guadeloupe and Fort de France on Martinique.
The 48-metre vessel, which has a speed of 40 knots and capacity for 10 cars and 330 passengers, will cover the route of 110 nautical miles in three hours and 15 minutes.
Jade Express also may call at Roseau on the island of Dominique, adding a further 30 minutes to the journey time, depending on timetables.
Built to the HSC code, the vehicle deck could be used as a cargo hold. Forward of the 10 parking bays, an 18 cubic metres area is designated for baggage and cargo.
The vessel is fitted with four MTU 16V 396TE74L engines and the Austal Ocean Leveller ride-control system, featuring T-foils forward and interceptors aft on the transom of each hull.
During speed trials, the contract speed requirements were exceeded. With a trial deadweight of 49 tonnes, Jade Express achieved a maximum speed of 40 knots and a service speed of 38 knots. The operator expects a 30-minute turnaround in port, with the car-deck design assisting quick loading and unloading.
