Miraejet Launches Damen Fast Ferry in Busan
Miraejet Co. Ltd. named its Damen Fast Ferry 4010 JET MV Nina at an official launching ceremony held at the Busan International Ferry Terminal in the Republic of Korea on October 6th. Nina was named after one of the ships deployed on Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the West Indies.
The order for the 440-passenger, Damen Fast Ferry 4010 JET was fulfilled in just four months. Miraejet Co. Ltd., a well-known ferry company in Korea, will operate the new vessel between Busan and Tsushima island, Japan, a very popular tourist destination. The ferry has been outfitted with a modern, fresh interior, providing high comfort levels for both passengers and crew.
Miraejet Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Hwang comments: “We were looking for a more efficient vessel compared to our existing monohull hydrofoil in terms of fuel consumption, but any new vessel should not compromise safety and comfort levels.”
Fuel consumption cut in half
“We considered several shipbuilders and also second-hand vessels. We chose Damen because it could provide us with an economically efficient vessel, which actually cuts fuel consumption in half and at the same time, enables us to double our passenger capacity.” The Damen Fast Ferry 4010 is compact at only 40 m and yet it has a capacity for 440 passengers and 10 crew.
A swift delivery was also crucial, Mrs Hwang stresses. Damen could supply the Fast Ferry in under six months, compared to an 18-month to two-year delivery period at other yards.
Delivery in four months
Robert Luth, Damen Product Manager Fast Ferries, says: “The Damen Fast Ferry 4010 is fitted with twin MJP 650 waterjets, enabling the vessel to have a speed of up to 34 knots. With two MTU 16V4000 main engines with a 1A rating, it only needs to be overhauled every 24,000 hours. This leads to a substantial reduction in maintenance costs when compared to other fast ferries.”
This type of vessel can be delivered with either waterjets or controllable pitch propellers, depending on customer needs and requirements.
“Additionally, we customized this vessel with extra fendering in the bow section to protect it against the low quays that are used for mooring in Tsushima,” Mr Luth adds. A cargo room was also added to the upper deck.
Six fast ferries have been delivered to South Korea since 2011 – four Fast Ferry 4212 and another Fast Ferry 4010.
Damen’s speculative shipbuilding program and high degree of standardization means that several ferries are under construction, which facilitates short delivery times.
