Fast Ferry Business Seeming At Bazan

Albayzin, was delivered in October 1994 to Argentinian operator Buquebus and chartered to Sea Shuttle in New Zealand for operation across the Cook Straight between Wellington and Pictron. The second Mestral-type fast ferry, Alcantara, was delivered to owner C. Trasmeditarranea in May 1995, and entered service on the Palma de Mallorca route on June 4, 1995 until September 15, 1995, when it was deployed to the Straits of Gibraltar route (in place of Albayzin). The third Mestral-type fast ferry, called Almudaina, was delivered to C. Trasmeditarranea in May 1996, and started its operational life on June 1 on the Palma de Mallorca route.

Regarding Bazan's vessels under construction, the first Alhambratype fast ferry — Giant Mestral — was launched in the San Fernando Shipyard on July 2, and will be commissioned this month. The vessel's owner — Buquebus of Argentina, also owner of Albayzin has announced that Giant Mestral will enter service on the River Plate for the 1996/97 Argentina summer, to be deployed later to the Kattegatt Sea for the 1997 northern hemisphere summer. The Alhambra class is similar in concept (but larger) than Mestral, in that the main characteristics of deep-V monohull, all-aluminum construction and conventional diesel propulsion are maintained. Alhambra is divided into four decks, the upper two for passenger accommodation and the lower two for vehicles. Nine transverse bulk- Alhambra class Mestral class main particulars main particulars Length o.a. 411 ft. (125.2 m) 3 1 2 ft. (95 m) Maximum breadth 61.3 ft. (18.7 m) 48 ft. (14.6 m) Depth 37 ft. (11.2 m) 29.2 ft. (8.9 m) DWT 475 175 Propulsion power 33,900 kW 20,000 kW Pictured is Alcantara, the second Mestral-type fast ferry delivered by Bazan. heads subdivide the vessel longitudinally and the bridge has been elevated above the passenger upper level to provide a 360 degree vantage. The main level of the continuous garage area has a capacity for 135 cars and the upper level for 109 cars.

The propulsion machinery consists of five propulsion units, four on the sides and one in the center. Each lateral propulsion unit consists of one Caterpillar 3616 diesel engine which drives a steerable and reversible KaMeWa 112S waterjet intercoupled by a direct drive reduction gearbox. The central propulsion unit, which serves (Continued on page 64) Rapid Access Structural Fire Protection Released To World Market Colbeck & Gunton, specializing in fast ferry fire protection, has introduced its new Rapid Access structural fire protection system. The system was developed more than two years ago, and installation has begun on the new Incat 86-m (282.-ft.) catamaran. The Rapid Access system, developed in conjunction with insulation supplier Thermal Ceramics, can be sold as a package which includes the Rapid Access system, the original structural fire protection system and the new light weight structural fire protection system. These systems reportedly allow installation in all areas of the vessel. The new Rapid Access system is reportedly to first to be tested to the new IMO regulations specifically designed for aluminum high speed craft.

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