Austal Ships of Australia has completed applications and have been uniquely to the quay for loading and
to the quay for loading and discharge. The
the largest of three Auto Express high
speed vehicle-passenger ferries for Greek
operator Minoan Flying Dolphins
Maritime. The 92 metre catamaran
‘Highspeed 4’, which has a maximum
deadweight of 470 tonnes, has entered
service for the summer 2000 season.
With the capacity to carry 1,050
passengers (200 VIP, 196 Business, 654
Tourist) and 188 cars (or 150 cars and four
coaches) ‘Highspeed 4’ will be the largest
fast ferry in Minoan’s extensive fleet, which
also includes the 72 metre Austal vessels
‘Highspeed 2’ (delivered in May 2000) and
‘Highspeed 3’ (July 2000) and the smaller
48 metre passenger catamaran ‘Flying
Dolphin 2000’ (June 1998).
‘Highspeed 4’ is expected to be deployed
on the route between Piraeus and the islands
of Paros and Naxos making twice daily
return journeys. The scheduled turnaround
times on the islands are between 15 and 30
minutes. Service speed will be 40.5 knots.
The three Auto Express vessels
designed for Minoan encompass a wide
range of technologically advanced
The VIP area’s deluxe leather seats from Beurteaux feature in-built games systems
30 SEPTEMBER 2000
customised to their operating conditions,
making the Minoan fleet one of the most
sophisticated in operation.
‘Highspeed 4’ features the Seastate
“Tmax” high speed steering system which
made its first appearance on the Auto Express
72 ‘Highspeed 2’. This innovative system
takes over control from the vessel’s waterjets
at speeds in excess of approximately 25
knots, allowing all waterjet thrust to be
vectored forward for maximum propulsive
thrust and eliminating waterjet bucket drag.
Seastate estimates the system to provide
average service speed improvements in
excess of two knots in rough sea operations.
‘Highspeed 4’ is also fitted with a
Seastate ride control system comprising T-
foils forward and interceptors at the
transom of each hull.
As with the 72 metre design, the 92 metre
catamaran also includes many specific design
features such as the hydraulically operated
passenger-loading gangways that hinge off
the waterjet guards fitted to the aft end of
each hull. This ensures safe and fast
passenger access as the vessel will moor stern
The aft bar and lounge area reflects the skills of Austal’s fitout team
two gangways are a fixed length, are raised
and lowered hydraulically, and have been
designed to operate simultaneously with, but
independently of, the vehicle ramp.
Both the gangways and the length
of the car ramp have been tailored to suit
the typically low quays found in
the Mediterranean.
To address the variable and gusty
operational wind conditions, specially
designed mooring and anchor windlasses
and high specification anchors to ensure
rapid deployment and recovery of all lines
and ground tackle were again incorporated
to ensure efficient turnaround times. The
well-organised garage features drive-around
loading and unloading via the stern ramp
with nine full length main deck lanes and
four full length mezzanine lanes. Maximum
axle load is 12 tonnes with a clear height of
4.4 metres in the centre lanes, 2.2 metres to
the side lanes and 2.0 metres to the
mezzanine lanes.
‘Highspeed 4’s’ interior is very well
appointed and provides passengers with a
continued on page 32

Austal’s trademark central atrium and skylight enhances the sense of space onboard the big catamaran
pleasant and comfortable travelling
environment. With 2,250 square metres
devoted to passengers and support services,
the vessel is outfitted to a high standard.
Amtico flooring incorporating an “oak
timber” look is used extensively throughout
heavy traffic areas and is colour coordinated
with carpet to the seated and lounge areas.
The main passenger deck features a wide
range of facilities dedicated to enhancing
passenger comfort and enjoyment. This deck
is outfitted with three kiosk/restaurant areas,
a souvenir/shopping area located amidships,
a children’s play area with a bright, colourful
décor and a games area (located aft of the
shop with feature entry from the port and
starboard outboard lounges) with several
arcade machines.
Ample baggage racks are well-
positioned throughout for the storage of
passenger luggage.
Stylish reclining seats, supplied by
Beurteaux Australia, are featured throughout
32 SEPTEMBER 2000
continued from page 30
the main deck in a combination of airline
style and table/chair arrangements. Audio-
visual systems are featured throughout to
entertain passengers during their journey
and ensure that all passengers are well
briefed on vessel safety.
Beurteaux says the passenger
entertainment systems have been developed
specifically to suit the particular requirements
of Minoan Flying Dolphins, and reflect a
general move by operators seeking to
improve revenue following the abolition of
duty free. The company says operators are
looking to in-seat entertainment as an
alternative means to improve revenue from
passengers who are prepared to pay a
premium for first class seating. Before too
long, Beurteaux predicts, passengers will be
able to choose from a variety of
entertainment and other facilities including
audio, video, game systems, computer
terminals, gambling and Internet access.
Bridge equipment includes Kelvin Hughes radars
and a Vistar night vision system
Table and chair arrangments feature in the
forward passenger saloon
‘Highspeed 4’ can carry 188 cars and more than
1,000 passengers at better than 40 knots
Onboard ‘Highspeed 4’, the business
class seating area for 196 passengers is
located forward on the main deck and
features panoramic windows across the
width of the superstructure.
A grand companion-way staircase
featuring stainless steel balustrades is located
below a large circular skylight dome and
services the vessel’s upper VIP lounge which
hosts a number of luxurious appointments.
Airline style seating for 200 passengers
features deluxe leather throughout. A
sound system is located in the armrest of
each seat and offers a selection of five
audio channels. An exclusive appointment
to the VIP lounge is the inclusion of 24
individual game systems mounted in the
seats that are specifically designed to suit
the vessel, and are similar to those now
widely used in the airline industry.
The Sony PlayStation game systems’
monitors retract within armrests that also
have compartments to store the controller.
All seats in the VIP and Business Class areas
have been fitted with a new custom designed
audio system. This five channel system has
been fitted to a variety of armrest shapes,
including a folding armrest, allowing for
easier passenger access and design variations
throughout the vessels delivered to Minoan
Flying Dolphins. The new armrest pads have
been designed to follow the sleek elliptical
shape of the audio control panel and reflect
the contoured shapes in the Beurteaux range.
The VIP lounge is also equipped with a
bar/kiosk that features a convivial bar style
seating area with swivel-based stools. A
generous number of baggage racks are
featured throughout and a covered outdoor
seating area for 20 passengers is available
aft on the upper deck.
‘Highspeed 4’ will operate with 36 crew
and features extensive crew facilities. Crew
accommodation is located forward on the
bridge and mezzanine decks and includes
six twin berth cabins and two four berth
cabins with shared toilet and shower
facilities. Cabins for the Captain and
Engineer are port and starboard of the
shared crew quarters and each is equipped
with separate en-suite facilities.
The crew mess is also located forward on
the bridge and mezzanine deck.
The wheelhouse features 360 degree
vision with close quarters manoeuvring
undertaken from the wing stations.
Electronics in the wheelhouse include Kelvin
Hughes radars, navigational equipment and
electronic chart navigation (Nucleus 5000 II
and Nucleus 2 ECDIS), C. Plath gyro and
magnetic compasses, Skipper ED162 echo
sounder, Sailor and Icom communications
systems and a Vistar night vision system.
Four marine evacuation system (MES)
stations, which can be activated locally or
from the bridge, are located forward, to port
and starboard. These were manufactured
and supplied by Liferaft Systems Australia.
Harbour deployment trials successfully
demonstrated the evacuation of 269
passengers plus crew in 12 minutes and 40
seconds, well under the required time frame
of 17 minutes and 40 seconds.
Footnote: In June 2000, Austal Ships’ design team
released details of the Auto Express 125; a 125
metre Ro-Pax catamaran design with the ability to
carry 1,200 tonnes deadweight at speeds in excess
of 40 knots. Propulsion options include twin
22,000kW gas turbines or quadruple diesels
generating up to 36,000kW.
For further information contact: Austal
Ships, 100 Clarence Beach Road,
Henderson 6166, Australia.
PH: +61 8 9410 1111, FX: +61 8 9410 2564,
e-mail: marketing@austal.com
web: www.austal.com
‘Highspeed 4’
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel: Auto Express 92 passenger-
vehicle catamaran ferry
Classification: Germanischer Lloyd
+100A5 HSC-B OC4, High
Speed Passenger /Ro-Ro
Type
Owner: Minoan Flying Dolphins
Maritime
Builder: Austal Ships
Construction material: Aluminium
Length overall: 92.6 metres
Length, waterline: 80.6 metres
Beam: 24.0 metres
Depth: 7.8 metres
Hull draught: 3.9 metres
Deadweight (max): 470 tonnes
Main engines: 4 x Caterpillar 3618;
7,200kW at 1,050rpm each
Gearboxes: 4 x Reintjes VLJ 6831
Waterjets: 4 x Kamewa 125 SII
Service speed: 40.5 knots
Fuel consumption: 5.3tph (90% MCR)
Ride control system: Seastate
Marine evacuation
systems: Liferaft Systems Australia
Passenger seating: Beurteaux
Passengers: 1,050
Vehicles: 188 cars or 150 cars and 4
buses
Crew: 36
Fuel: 160,000 litres
WORK BOAT WORLD 33