Waterjets For Fast Ferry

Wärtsilä announced it has been contracted to provide the waterjets for a new high-speed ferry being built by the Incat Tasmania yard in Australia for Malta based Virtu Ferries. When delivered, the vessel will be the largest high-speed catamaran operating in the Mediterranean Sea and will have a service speed of up to 38 knots.

The scope of supply covers four Wärtsilä LJX1500SRI waterjets and a Lipstronic control system. The equipment is scheduled to be delivered to the yard in April 2018 and the ship is to be delivered to the owners at the end of 2018.

The 110 m long wave-piercing catamaran will operate between Malta and Sicily and will complete the crossing in approximately 90 minutes. The vessel will have a capacity for 900 passengers in four lounges on two passenger decks. It will also have the equivalent of 490 truck lane m for 167 cars.

“This new vessel will be a large and powerful high speed ferry,” said Arto Lehtinen, vice president, Propulsion, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions. “The Wärtsilä waterjets selected will ensure fast, efficient and reliable operations.

“We have worked in close cooperation with Incat for nearly 30 years and during this time have supplied them with modular waterjets for various vessel applications around the world. This product loyalty is the best possible endorsement of the quality and performance expected of the Wärtsilä range of waterjets.”

Wärtsilä modular waterjets incorporate a compact axial pump designed for high efficiency and low cavitation and noise characteristics. The components are stainless steel to prevent wear and corrosion, while the water lubricated bearing in the stator bowl provides an environmentally friendly solution, Wärtsilä said. The inlet design is tailored to the outline and operational profile of each individual vessel.

More information on Wärtsilä waterjets is available here.