INCAT Crowther has announced the launch of the 72-metre passenger ferry Korea Pride.
Incat Crowther supported Korea Express Ferry in the building of the vessel, which will operate from Incheon on the west coast of South Korea.
In procuring such a ferry, Korea Express Ferry set very high safety, comfort and performance standards. The operator also specified that the ship be built locally, becoming the first ship of this type constructed in South Korea.
Incat Crowther was selected to design the ship and supervise its construction at Kangnam Corporation in Busan.
Korea Pride features a sleek, single-deck configuration. Incat Crowther technical manager Dan Mace said the configuration was selected to handle the specific conditions which include large swell and wind chop.
“Safety and open sea capability drove our design and build. The 72m platform is longer than usual for a single-deck ship,” Mr Mace said.
“This delivers greater speed without sacrificing fuel efficiency.”
Korea Express Ferry CEO Sung Man Hwang said he was very pleased with the vessel.
“Incat Crowther’s contribution to the project cannot be understated,” he said.
“We received a high-quality ship that reached an impressive 41 knots on sea trials. It is a very happy day for us to take delivery of such an extraordinary ship. It will serve our passengers very well.”
Five hundred fifty six passengers can be accommodated across a single deck. To maximise safety and efficiency, passengers board and disembark via six boarding gates/doors, located to integrate with shoreside infrastructure.
Korea Pride is powered by quad MTU 16V4000 main engines, with neat and tidy engine room layout and exposed engine hatches aiding maintenance and removal. The ship has an operating speed of 36.5 knots.
