Incat Tasmania is an Australian manufacturer of high-speed craft (HSC) catamaran ferries. Its greatest success has been with large, sea going passenger and vehicle ferries, but it has also built military transports and since 2015 it has built smaller river and bay ferries. Based in Derwent Park, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, it was founded by Bob Clifford.

Incat
IndustryShipbuilding
Founded1977
FounderBob Clifford
Headquarters
ProductsWave-piercing catamarans
OwnerBob Clifford
Websitewww.incat.com.au

The company builds vessels using aluminium construction, wave-piercing and water-jet technology. Vessels have been constructed up to 130 metres in length with a size of 13,000 gross tons and with cruising speeds of up to 58 knots (107 km/h).

History

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Incat's Hobart shipyard (to the right)
 
The 99m wave piercing catamaran HSC Francisco, delivered by Incat in 2013: the world's fastest ship in commercial service

The company began in 1972 as the Sullivans Cove Ferry Company in suburban Hobart and built four small ferries before International Catamarans was formed in 1977 by a partnership between founder Bob Clifford and marine architect Philip Hercus. This partnership created plans for what was probably the first large wave piercing catamaran in the world. However the partnership was dissolved in 1988 with Clifford remaining in Hobart trading as Incat Tasmania while Hercus returned to Sydney to establish Incat Designs (Sydney), a design-only company that became Incat Crowther after a merger in 2005. Incat Crowther has no association with Incat Tasmania and its ships are built by other companies. Incat Tasmania has its own in-house design company, Revolution Design.[1]

In 1989 Incat Tasmania moved to its present location on Prince of Wales Bay, which allowed it to build larger ships, and in 1990 Incat delivered its first 74-metre fast catamaran ferry. At the same time, several other companies also began to build large aluminium vehicle carrying ferries. This new type of ship was revolutionary and over the next decade fast cats replaced most hydrofoil and hovercraft services as well as many monohull ferries. The success of this new type of ferry led to other shipbuilders around the world using their yards to build large vehicle carrying aluminium catamarans. However many ferry operators preferred traditional monohull designs and the limited market for fast cats became crowded with manufacturers bidding low to keep their shipyards working.

In August 2024, Incat purchased 12 hectares of land from Norske Skog to build a second shipyard on part of the Boyer Mill site.[2][3][4]

Products

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Large wave piercing passenger and vehicle ferries

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In 1990 Incat was one of the pioneers of large, fast catamaran ferries and they have been its core product ever since. The type of ship was different from earlier ferries and its instant success led to Incat becoming a major player in the industry. Over the years innovation has led to the ships becoming bigger, faster, more fuel efficient and much more stable on rough seas. Vehicle decks are often movable to make way for high trucks or extra cars.

Ships in this category have been built from 74 to 130 metres long and from 3,000 to 13,000 gross tons. The 99-metre HSC Francisco (Hull 069) is the world's fastest ship in commercial service and can achieve speeds up to 58 knots (107 km/h; 67 mph).

Smaller passenger ferries

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Incat began by building small ferries under 37 metres, but from 1990 it concentrated on larger vehicle-carrying catamarans. However, in 2015 the company resumed building smaller ferries and in that year it delivered river ferries for operation in London, Hobart and Sydney. Since then it has designed and built more smaller ferries including two 35-metre, 400 passenger ferries (Hulls 090 and 095) for commuter runs by Port Phillip Ferries from Melbourne Docklands to Portarlington and Geelong.

Military vessels

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HSV-X1 near Crete

In the 1990s several catamarans built by Incat entered naval service as fast transports, including HMAS Jervis Bay with the Royal Australian Navy and HSV-X1Joint Venture, Spearhead and HSV-2 Swift, which served with the United States Armed Forces.

Other vessels

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K class

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In the mid-1990s Incat built three "K class" ferries. They are 70 to 80 metres long, low profile passenger vessels without wave piercing bows or the distinctive centre bow that characterise all other larger Incat ferries. Two were built by Incat in Hobart and a third was built by a Chinese partner. Plans for further Chinese built K class ferries did not eventuate and Hull NF08 remains the only Incat vessel not built in Hobart.

Oil rig tender

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Most offshore oil rigs are exposed to rough open seas with crew transfers by helicopter and freight needs served by platform supply vessels. However Azerbaijan's offshore oil rigs are in the calmer waters of the Caspian Sea, the world's largest lake, so crew transfers can be comfortably and more economically undertaken by water. Several fast catamarans have been built to transfer both crews and cargo for this market including Incat Hull 074 Muslim Magomayev delivered in 2015.[5] The size of catamarans that can be built for this niche market is restricted by the 16.5-metre width of locks on the Volga–Don Canal that connects the Caspian Sea with the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Brooke Street Pier

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From 1990 Incat had almost exclusively built large catamarans, but this changed in 2014 when the company diversified into something that was not even a ship, although it did float. An earlier Brooke Street Pier ferry terminal on Hobart's waterfront needed replacement and Incat was commissioned to build an 80 x 20-metre floating pontoon. Hull 077 was towed 8 km from Incat's shipyard to Sullivans Cove before finishing work was done on site. In addition to ferry berths, the pier hosts a restaurant, a cafe and a number of stalls.

Luxury super yachts

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The market for opulent motor yachts has grown rapidly in the 21st century and while the market is mostly for monohull vessels, catamarans are beginning to make inroads. Incat has released several designs ranging from 80 to 112 metres which are shown on their website,[6] but so far[timeframe?] there have been no orders.

Deliveries

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In its early years Incat built smaller boats and ferries with little to distinguish it from other boat yards except for a willingness to experiment and innovate. But the revolutionary Hull 023 completed in 1990 was quite different and was the first of the type of ferry that Incat is best known for today with its large capacity, high speed, wave piercing hulls and distinctive centre bow. As one of the first large aluminium vehicle carrying catamarans in the world, it contributed to the big changes in the ferry industry that occurred in the 1990s.

Image Hull no Length / class Gross tonnage Delivered Latest name Operator Notes
N/A
001
18m cat
1977
Jeremiah Ryan
Unknown
[7]
N/A
002
18m cat
1979
James Kelly
Unknown
[7]
N/A
003
??m cat
1980
A. K. Ward
Derwent Sailing Squadron
[7]
N/A
004
20m cat
1981
Fitzroy
Unknown
[7]
N/A
005
20m cat
1981
Tangalooma
Unknown
[7]
N/A
006
20m cat
1981
Amaroo II
Unknown
[7]
N/A
007
20m cat
1982
Green Islander
Unknown
[7]
N/A
008
20m cat
1982
Quicksilver
Unknown
[7]
N/A
009
29m cat
1982
Spirit of Roylen
Unknown
[7]
N/A
010
21m cat
1983
Trojan
Unknown
[7]
N/A
011
22m cat
1984
Keppel Cat I
Unknown
[7]
N/A
012
??m cat
1983
Thunderbird
Unknown
[7]
N/A
013
9 m cat
1982
Little Devil
Unknown
[7] launched 1984[8]
N/A
014
?? m cat
1984
Pybus Rutherglen Punt
Unknown
[7]
N/A
015
?? m yacht
1984
Margaret Rintoul
Unknown
[7]
N/A
016
27m cat
1985
Spirit of Victoria
Unknown
[7]
N/A
017
31m cat
1986
Tassie Devil 2001
Unknown
[7]
N/A
018
23m cat
1987
Starship Genesis
Unknown
[7]
N/A
019
31m cat
1988
2000
Unknown
[7]
020
30m cat
1986
Scrapped at Marchwood in 2008[9]
021
30m cat
1986
Scrapped at Esbjerg in 2009[10]
N/A
022
37m cat
1988
Sea Flight
Cruise Whitsundays
[7]
023
74m WPC
3,012
1990
The first large, aluminium, vehicle carrying catamaran built by Incat and one of the first in the world. Has operated in 3 continents
024
74m WPC
3,454
1992
025
74m WPC
3,003
1990
026
74m WPC
3,003
1991
027
74m WPC
3,003
1992
ColoniaExpress
028
74m WPC
3,003
1992
030
74m WPC
3,241
1993
Hanil Express
Formerly known as Condor 10
N/A
031
74m WPC
3,231
1993
Dae-A-Gosok
Refitting at Busan
032
74m WPC
4,994
1993
Ferrylineas S.A.
033
78m WPC
3,989
1994
Baleària–Bahamas Express
N/A
034
78m WPC
3,989
1995
Fares 2
Maritime Company for Navigation, Saudi Arabia
Formerly Elanora operated by El Salam Maritime
035
78m WPC
3,989
1995
The last Incat vessel fitted with a bow door
036
70m K class
1,760
1995
N/A
037
78m K class
2,450
ColoniaExpress
N/A
NF08
80m K class
2,357
1998
Harmony Flower
H Ferry (DAE-A Express Shipping) Korea.
Built in Panga, China under contract from Incat as part of a plan to build K class vessels there. Only one was built in China
038
81m WPC
4,112
1996
N/A
039
1996
Solar Boat
Incat R&D craft
040
81m WPC
4,113
1996
Dae A Express
Operated under various names in the Irish Sea by Stena Line from 1996 to 2011. Now operates in South Korea
041
81m WPC
4,305
1996
042
86m WPC
5,005
1996
Formerly Condor Express for Condor Ferries.
043
86m WPC
5,007
1997
044
86m WPC
5,005
1997
Formerly Condor Vitesse for Condor Ferries
045
86m WPC
5,007
1997
Formerly Condor Rapide for Condor Ferries and HMAS Jervis Bay
046
91m WPC
5,617
1997
Government of Trinidad & Tobago
Sank in April 2021[11]
047
91m WPC
5,902
1998
048
91m WPC
5,617
1998
049
91m WPC
5,619
1998
050
96m WPC
5,743
1998
Previously HSV-X1 Joint Venture
051
96m WPC
5,528
1999
052
96m WPC
6,346
1999
053
96m WPC
6,344
1999
N/A
054
R&D craft
Wing
Incat
055
96m WPC
6,344
2000
056
96m WPC
6,360
2000
Formerly Highspeed 6 at Hellenic Seaways
057
98m WPC
6,581
2000
Formerly Normandie Express for Brittany Ferries
058
98m WPC
6,554
2003
059
98m WPC
6,464
2002
Fujian Cross Straight Ferry
Operates between Taiwan and China. Formerly ran as The Cat from eastern USA to Canada and Bahamas
060
98m WPC
6,581
2000
Government of Trinidad & Tobago
Formerly the US military's USAV Spearhead
061
98m WPC
6,581
2003
United States Navy 2002–2013. In UAE service from 2015. Seajets 2017 -
Major damage to port bow after missile attack off Yemen in 2016. Towed to Greece for repairs. Not operational
N/A
062
98m WPC
6,581
2006
Formerly Milenium Tres at Acciona Trasmediterránea
N/A
063
17m cat
2006
Sixty Three
17m Project Pty Ltd
064
112m WPC
10,841
2007
J & T Shipping Co Ltd Wagon Group
065
112m WPC
10,715
2008
Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry
066
112m WPC
10,503
2009
Previously Norman Arrow
067
112m WPC
10,503
2013
068
85m WPC
5,702
2015
Operating the Algeciras to Ceuta route across the Strait of Gibraltar. Formerly Sado Steam Ship connecting Sado island in Eastern Japan with the main island of Honshu. Under construction (2013)[12]
069
99m WPC
7,109
2013
Fastest ship in the world
N/A
070
17m
2016
Gwenhyfar
Privately owned
Cruising ketch[13]
N/A
071
N/A
2011
The Barge
Tas Marine Constructions
N/A
072
15m
2011
Lindoy
Stava Bat &
Dykkerservice
Delivered to Norway 16 November 2011[14]
073
34m
2015
MR-1 or Mona Roma
Navigators / Secheron Holdings for Museum of Old and New Art
Delivered 9 February 2015.[15] Operates on Derwent River, Hobart
N/A
074
70m FCB
1,439
2015
Muslim Magomayev
Caspian Marine Services
Launched 2014, named after Muslim Magomayev[16][17]
075
35m
155
2015
Galaxy Clipper
Entered service October 2015[18]
076
35m
155
2015
Neptune Clipper
Thames Clippers
Entered service October 2015[18] Article on Thames Clippers Hunt Class catamarans.
077
2014
Brooke Street Pier Development Corporation
Pier, completed November 2014[19] Displacement 4,200 tons (not Gross Tonnage)
N/A
078
24m
2015
Ocean Tracker
Entered service 23 December 2015[20]
N/A
079
24m
2015
Ocean Wave
Manly Fast Ferry
Entered service 23 December 2015[20]
N/A
080
33m
2016
Ocean Surfer
Manly Fast Ferry
Entered service March 2016[21]
081
33m
2016
Ocean Flyer
Manly Fast Ferry
Entered service March 2016[21]
082
35m
2016
In service[22]
083
35m
2017
Fred Hollows
Sydney Ferries
Entered service 26 June 2017[23]
084
35m
2017
Victor Chang
Sydney Ferries
In service[24]
085
35m
2017
Pemulwuy
Sydney Ferries
In service[25]
086
35m
2017
Bungaree
Sydney Ferries
In service[26]
087
35m
2017
May Gibbs
Sydney Ferries
Entered service December 2017 as Emerald 6, renamed January 2018[27]
088
109m WPC
10,842
2017
Entered service June 2017. 1,000 pass, 417 cars.[28]
089
110m WPC
9,044
2018
For service in Malta, due to commence operations in March 2019.[29]
090
35m WPC
2017
Bellarine Express
405 passengers. In service on Port Phillip between Melbourne Docklands and Portarlington[30]
091
111m WPC
10,870
2019
35 knots cruising speed. 1,1184 passengers, 390 cars, 595 lane metres of ro-ro cargo. Cost €74 million[31]
N/A
092
33 metres
2018
Ocean Adventurer
Manly Fast Ferry
Operates on Port Jackson, Sydney. seats 400[32]
N/A
093
111 metres
2021
Volcán de Taidia
N/A
094
100 metres
2021
Buccoo Reef
Government of Trinidad and Tobago
Operates between Port of Spain and Scarborough.[33]
N/A
095
35 metres
2019
Geelong Flyer
Operates between Melbourne & Geelong complementing the earlier Melbourne to Portalington service.[34]
096
130 metres
13,000
Will be the world's largest aluminium ship. 226 cars, 2,100 passengers in four classes with a full deck for cafes, restaurants, shops, etc. To operate between Argentina and Uruguay.[35]
N/A
097
76 metres
3000+
2022
Santa Monica 1
Seaworld Express Ferry
Operates between Jindo and Jeju in South Korea. 700 pax and crew, 79 cars. Media release.
N/A
098
120 metres
.
Undisclosed
.
099
76.7 metres
3000+
2023
El Dorado Express
Daezer
To operate between Pohang and Ulleung in South Korea at up to 50 knots. Media release.[36]
Image
Hull no.
Length / class
Delivered
Latest name
Operator
Notes

In the "Length / class" field of the table WPC means the vessel is a wave piercing catamaran. The three K class vessels were a low profile design without the wave piercing bows and the capacity to carry fewer cars than traditional Incat designs.

In the competitive ferry industry, ships often change operators, especially in Europe. Other ferries have alternated between summer service in the northern and southern hemispheres every six months. Some Incat vessels of the 1990s have been operated by up to six shipping companies with regular name changes.

Gross tonnage is a measure of a ship's enclosed volume rather than its weight or displacement, so similar ships can have differing gross tonnages due to factors such as whether a viewing platform is fully enclosed or open to the weather.

References

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  1. ^ Company Profile Incat
  2. ^ Incat to double capacity with new site and shipbuilding capacity Incat 29 August 2024
  3. ^ Incat to build new shipyard in Derwent Valley to meet demand for electric vessels Pulse Tasmania 29 August 2024
  4. ^ News in Brief Ships Monthly October 2024 page 6
  5. ^ Offshore Solutions Incat
  6. ^ "Concept Vessels". www.incat.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Earlier Vessels". Incat. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  8. ^ "History". Incat. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  9. ^ "M/S OUR LADY PATRICIA (1986)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  10. ^ "M/S OUR LADY PAMELA (1986)". Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  11. ^ T&T Express sinks Trinidad & Tobago Guardian 24 April 2021
  12. ^ "85 Metre Wave Piercing Catamaran". Incat. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Gwenhwyfar (070)". www.incat.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Lindoy (072)". www.incat.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017.
  15. ^ "MR-1 (073)". www.incat.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017.
  16. ^ "70 Metre Fast Crew Boat". Incat. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  17. ^ David Beniuk (14 September 2014). "Oil-industry cat a crooner's cruiser as Incat's Muslim Magomayev heads to Azerbaijan's Caspian oilfields". Mercury.
  18. ^ a b Incat Builds Arrive in London in Style Sea Breezes 7 December 2015
  19. ^ $12 million floating waterfront masterpiece takes shape The Mercury 24 May 2014
  20. ^ a b New Manly fast ferries opened to public without Opal card access ABC News 29 December 2015
  21. ^ a b 4 Brand New Boats Manly Fast Ferry 18 March 2016
  22. ^ Aussie doctor lends her name to newest ferry Archived 22 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 15 November 2016
  23. ^ Incat ferries bound for Denmark & Sydney Harbour The Mercury 21 April 2017
  24. ^ Victor Chang joins Sydney's ferry fleet Transport for NSW 18 August 2017
  25. ^ Pemulwuy arrives in Sydney Transport for NSW 30 August 2017
  26. ^ New ferries to cater for population boom along Parramatta River Sydney Morning Herald 2 October 2017
  27. ^ Ferry McFerryface wasn't public pick for new ferry name until Andrew Constance's captain's pick Daily Telegraph 30 January 2018
  28. ^ Incat Builds New Ferry for Denmark Ships Monthly 29 April 2016
  29. ^ "Virtu's new catamaran will be among the world's largest". Times of Malta. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019.
  30. ^ "28/11/2017". www.incat.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018.
  31. ^ Incat Insider newsletter, issue 049 Incat
  32. ^ My Fast Ferry Launched at Incat Incat 10 July 2018
  33. ^ "094".
  34. ^ "095".
  35. ^ "096".
  36. ^ "099".
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