INCAT Tasmania’s new 111-metre ferry has been handed over to its new Spanish owner Naviera Armas and is departing Hobart for Spain this week.
The ship, named Volcan de Tagoro (Incat Hull 091) has been on the River Derwent during the past few days while completing sea trials.
The ship is currently in Hobart loading fuel and supplies for the voyage to Spain. The delivery is to be via Auckland, Tahiti and the Panama Canal.
The Volcan de Tagoro crew arrived in Tasmania late June to familiarise themselves with the ship and participate in the sea trials.
Naviera Armas SA is to operate the vessel on Spanish routes, including the Canary Islands.
The company already has an extensive fleet of vessels, and Volcan de Tagoro will be the fifth Incat vessel operating in the Armas fleet, however it is their first newbuild from Incat Tasmania.
The ship is powered by four diesel engines driving Wartsila waterjets and achieved more than 42 knots with 600 tonnes deadweight during speed trials.
Inccat chief executive Tim Burnell said this was the second large vessel delivered in just six months.
“We have been building [the ship] for two years so it was great to see many staff show family members through the ship last week, clearly proud of their workmanship on the vessel,” he said.
“The contract, in excess of A$100m to Incat has also provided significant income to suppliers and sub-contractors as well, even the hospitality industry receiving a boost with ship crew who arrived from Spain for the trials and delivery.”
Incat’s Prince of Wales Bay shipyard is building three large vessels plus a 35-metre commuter ferry the Geelong Flyer which is to operate between Geelong and Docklands in Melbourne from early December.
The next export vessel is a ship for Trinidad and Tobago to be completed in 2020.
