Celebrating 10 years of design and construction of aluminium catamaran ferries and work boats were Australian company Sea Speed Design and Hong Kong/China based Wang Tak Engineering and Shipbuilding. It was a double celebration with the signing of the latest order for a 41.6 meter high speed Aluminium Catamaran for Shanghai.
The original agreement was signed in the boardroom of the Wang Tak building Kowloon June 10 1997 by directors Paul Birgan and Feat Szeto. Ten years later they are in the same room signing off on the new order.
It took over three years of working together on proposals and tenders before the team finally received the first order for three 28 metre/230 pax ferries for NWFF of Hong Kong, the “Seacat 28” design. These vessels are in operation, carrying out inter-island work cruising at 27 knots (2 knots over the contract speed). The vessels are still in excellent condition and the owners are very happy with them.
The next order was for a 33m ferry for a Shanghai client, the “Seacat 33” design which again met the owners criteria in full, so much so that after one full years successful operation they have ordered the new “Seacat 41”
The current new-build project is for 2 units of the 33 metre hull with the sleek new styling of the “Seacat 33 SZ”, the first of which is due for launching mid Aug 2007. These two vessels will operate between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in China.
The new order for the 41.6 metre Seacat 400 pax high-speed catamaran features the super efficient seaspeed “deep vee” seacat hull and is a high passenger capacity commuter ferry for Shanghai waterways. Almost 300 passengers are on the lower deck with a comfortable seating arrangement of generous seat pitch and extra wide companionways The area has a large servery/bar area and the wash rooms are away from the seating. The upper deck is for 100 VIP passengers in a spacious saloon with three separate exclusive lounge rooms and boardrooms featuring the latest in flat screen TVs and music systems.
Powered by the twin MTU 12v 4000 engines (1740kw) and MJP 650 waterjets combination the predicted full loaded speed is over 30 knots. Recent tank testing of the new hull in the Tasmania’s AMC (Australian Maritime College) towing tank were the latest in a series of these tests carried out by Sea Speed Design and were very successful.
Seaspeed/Wang Tak have been concentrating on the mid-speed, high performance and fuel economy segment of the market in the 25-35 knot speed range. They appeal to the thrifty operator with lower capital cost due to smaller engines and propulsion systems, low operating costs and low emissions whilst operating. The environmental impact being very low per passenger nautical mile.
All the vessels have been built in Guangzhou (Canton) China by Guangdong Hongshen Shipyard which is a joint venture between Wang Tak and a local shipyard. This shipyard has been operating for many years prior to building the first catamaran.
The standard of construction is high and to CCS (China Classification Sercity) LR (Lloyds Register) or any other international standard. The standard of the product is export quality.
If the amount of enquires for the high quality ferries are any indication,
the Australian - Chinese co-operation is set to further expand
in the future.
This 41m passenger catamaran is currently being constructed in Shanghai China.
News
December 2007
The Second Seacat 33 SZ Delivered
August 2007
"Seacat 33 SZ" The first
of two high speed ferries under construction in China has jus t been
launched. Sea Trials will be end of August.
August 2007
Hong Kong/China based Wang Tak Engineering and Shipbuilding and
Australian company Sea Speed Design recently celebrated
10 years of design and construction of Aluminium Catamaran Ferries
and Work Boats.
July 2007
"Seacat 41.6" New contract signed
for 41.6 metre Aluminium Passenger Catamaran.
