SBS Southampton supplied materials to Wight Shipyard Co. to construct two 37m fast ferries. The ferries were made for Ultramar, the largest ferry operator in Mexico and were designed by Incat Crowther, with a short turnaround project time of only ten months, which started in September 2018. By the beginning of July 2019, they were transported to Cancun in Mexico, where they could serve as ferries.
Smith Brothers involvement began when they started supplying Georg Fischer plastic and stainless Isotubi tube & fittings. The company was chosen due to the depth of staff, stock and responsive delivery service. With the strict turnaround of 10 months, SBS Southampton met the expectations and high demands specified by Wight Shipyard Co, Incat Crowther and Ultramar.
The equipment was carefully selected to save weight on the ferries, to fuel efficiency. The ferries weigh 20,000kg lighter than similar models, allowing the ferries to be faster and more eco-friendly. It is reported that the engines can achieve a top speed of 24 knots at 75% MCR, better than an average transport ferry. These ferries are powered by two MTU 12v4,000 M63 engines with output at 2 X 1,500 kW (2012 hp) at 1,800 rpm. The gearboxes are two ZF 7,600s with propulsion from two fixed-pitch propellers.
Both ferries will operate between Cancun and Isla Mujeres and can carry 459 passengers. The ferries can also support the Playa De Carmen to Cozumel route. Due to sea conditions and specific docking restrictions, the routes require both ferries to have a much higher freeboard. The ferries have three decks, accessed by a central staircase and two external staircases. The top deck alone has seating for 122 passengers.
It is a shame many of us will never get to ride aboard these beautiful ferries, but we are proud to have been involved in a small part of the construction of such a vessel.
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