First-class ferry designs from Incat Crowther

Dan Mace on how the marine design firm can help operators expand fleets or switch to green propulsion

First-class ferry designs from Incat Crowther
Incat Crowther has developed the world’s first fast ro-pax ferry with dual-fuel LNG engines for Baleària

By Rebecca Gibson |


This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of Spring/Summer 2019 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.

Majestic Fast Ferry’s Majestic Dream in Singapore, Ultramar’s City Jets I and II in Mexico, Water Emergency Transportation Authority’s Argo in California, Twin City Liner’s new river catamaran in Austria, Seaspovill’s SeaStar 11 in South Korea and Azam Marine’s Kilimanjaro fleet in Tanzania – what do all of these ferries have in common? They were all designed by Incat Crowther, a naval architecture company with offices in Sydney, Australia; Lafayette, Louisiana, US; and Winchester, UK. 

Boasting a team of skilled and experienced designers and engineers, Incat Crowther provides a range of services for both ship operators and shipyards. These services range from project conception to launch and include both functional and production design. The team’s talent, independent advice plus the company’s well-equipped facilities, make it an ideal partner for shipowners looking to expand their fleets.  

“Incat Crowther brings the experience of designing more than 550 vessels in 50 countries to the table,” says Dan Mace, technical manager at Incat Crowther. “This experience includes solutions to many unique operational scenarios, which adds value to every new vessel project for both the passenger ship operator and the shipyard. For operators, Incat Crowther develops operation-specific designs, solves technical challenges and provides holistic value over the long-term operation of the vessel. For shipyards, Incat Crowther can offer systems that have proven to reduce re-work and improve production efficiency, offering the best value and resulting in long-term, win-win partnerships.”

Incat Crowther’s reputation as a skilled ship designer led to the development of the world’s first fast ro-pax ferry with dual-fuel LNG engines in 2018. To be operated by Mediterranean shipping company Baleària, the 1,200-passenger vessel will accommodate 500 cars and will be delivered by Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon in 2020. Incat Crowther has designed the vessel with an operation-specific centre bow design to reduce onboard motion and a retractable centre T-foil to minimise noise and vibrations in the passenger spaces. The 125-metre-long catamaran ferry will be powered by four dual-fuel reciprocating engines, which will eliminate sulphur oxide and particulate matter emissions and significantly reduce carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions when the ferry debuts in 2020.

“In response to increased market demand, we have developed a number of new high-speed passenger vessels above 50 metres in length,” says Mace, adding that the company is incorporating many new technologies in each of these new designs. 

According to Mace, Incat Crowther is seeing growing trends in the passenger shipping market. “We’re working on an increasing number of projects for renewing whole fleets of commuter ferries,” he says. “Incat Crowther has done the complete functional and production design of the 25-vessel new fleet procurement for NYC Ferry in New York City, US. This has led to further works with government agencies and private enterprises to expand commuter fleets worldwide. Concurrently, Incat Crowther is leading the way with alternative propulsion technologies and we have vessels using LNG, hydrogen and electric propulsion either in service or currently under construction.”

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