Volcan de Tagoro on her way to Spain

Incat Tasmania's newest 111 m-long catamaran ferry has been handed over to her new Spanish operator Naviera Armas.

The ferry will offer room for up to 1,200 passengers (incl. crew) as well as 595 lane metres of cargo capacity plus 219 cars (or, in the car-only mode, 401 cars).

Volcan de Tagoro (nameplate 091) departed Hobart on 16 July (her crew arrived in Tasmania late June to familiarise themselves with the ship and participate in the sea trials). The delivery will be via Auckland, across the Pacific Ocean to Tahiti and the Panama Canal before crossing the Atlantic on her way to Spain.

Naviera Armas will operate the new vessel across its Spanish network, including routes to and from the Canary Islands. Volcan de Tagoro will be the fifth Incat vessel flying in the company's livery, however, it's their first newbuild from Incat Tasmania, having obtained their other Incat-built vessels on the second-hand market.

The ship is powered by four MAN 20V diesel engines driving Wärtsilä waterjets. The ferry achieved over 42 knots with 600t deadweight during the speed trials.

"Our team at Incat have been busy, this is the second large vessel delivered in just six months. […] We are seeing an unprecedented level of interest in both large and small aluminium ferries at present and have expectation of operating at maximum capacity for a number of years. The contract, in excess of A$100 million to Incat has also provided significant income to suppliers and sub-contractors," Tim Burnell, CEO, Incat, said.

Photo: Incat/Walter Pless