The vessel is being built by Austal in Australia for delivery on 9 May 2005. Building commenced this month.
Austal are the world’s largest builders of fast ferries, specialising in large vehicle-carrying catamarans.
The company, with its head office in Australia, has project offices and subsidiary companies in the United States, Europe and Asia and Austal-built fast ferries are in operation in all five continents.
The company has an international reputation for custom-built vessels for leading ship-owners and over the last decade has diversified to combat vessels and naval petrol craft.
Virtu Ferries will deploy the new vessel on the company’s established Malta –Sicily route, with additional rolling cargo capacity, and expand the service to mainland Italy. The vessel is specifically designed for this route, with aft and side ramps for rapid turnaround.
The 69-metre vessel is powered by six MTU 16 cylinder engines and a KaMeWa propulsion system.
With a cruising speed of 40 knots, Virtu Ferries will operate a year-round scheduled service to Pozzallo, Catania and Reggio Calabria.
The service will facilitate car travel and the import/export of cargo. A trailer departing Pozzallo will arrive in Malta in 90 minutes, Catania in three hours and Reggio in four hours 30 minutes.
Shippers in Malta, Sicily and Italy have welcomed this high-speed rolling cargo option and a number are in advanced discussions with Virtu Ferries.
The car space available will satisfy the increased demand by foreign-registered cars, especially in the peak season.
The garage height, at 4.6 metres, allows for campers and coaches, a niche market hitherto untapped by Malta. With border formalities no longer in operation in EU countries, Europe is experiencing an unprecedented increase in coach travel, with hundreds of thousands of coach tourists across the continent each year and increasing numbers taking advantage of reduced rates in the shoulder months in Southern Europe. This new service will place Malta as an extension of mainland Europe.
Passenger accommodation is on two decks: the tourist class upper deck for 508 passengers also houses two catering outlets, two shops and recreational facilities.
The bridge deck accommodates 92 club class passengers, with additional optional outside seats. The spacious seating configuration on both decks has been designed to allow for ease of circulation of passengers.
The vessel is being built in accordance with the requirements, and under the survey, of the Norwegian Classification Society Det Norske Veritas, conforming to International Maritime Organisation codes and Malta Flag State and Italian Port State Regulations. Registration will be under the Malta Flag.