VESSEL REVIEW | Kilimanjaro VII – Brand new fast ferry for Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam – Zanzibar route

Richardson Devine Marine Constructions has just launched Kilimanjaro VII, a 45-metre catamaran passenger ferry for Azam Marine of Tanzania, Africa.

This vessel is the seventh vessel built for the operator by Richardson Devine Marine to supply a passenger ferry service between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. As per the previous six vessels, Sydney-based Incat Crowther was responsible for the design and engineering.

The vessel seats 224 passengers in its main deck business cabin, 72 VIP passengers and 18 "royal class" passengers in luxurious lie flat seats on the mid deck, with the remainder being economy passengers in separate areas over three decks.

VIP and royal class passengers enjoy dedicated personal entertainment screens with a food and beverage ordering service incorporated into the system. A major enhancement from earlier vessels is the relocation of the wheelhouse to the third deck. This configuration results in panoramic windows forward on the mid deck for the royal class passengers, creating an impressive experience for occupants of this high-revenue space.

The expansive wheelhouse is full width with internal wing stations and four forward facing elevated crew seats for the master, mate and engineers. There is a comfortable bank of armchairs for travelling company executives or guest VIPs.

To facilitate efficient boarding of passengers and luggage the 500-passenger, 35 knot vessel features a parallel boarding system from ship-based, electrically operated, hinged boarding access ways.

There are four passenger access entries per side with level-adjusting boarding stairs and a dedicated cargo access ramp. VIP and royal class passengers board into a discreet stair tower directly to the upper deck cabin. Main deck business passengers also board midships with economy passengers boarding aft.

Luggage trolley movements are managed safely using a high-speed winch mounted in the luggage room overhead. The luggage room houses up to 10 tonnes of luggage and cargo. The boarding system ensures passenger classes and luggage trolleys are segregated, reducing turnaround time and improving safety, whilst promoting exclusivity for the higher yield passengers.

Kilimanjaro VII is the first fast passenger vessel to use a pair of Cummins QSK95-M main engines. RDM said the large, twin-engine solution was an effective way of providing more speed whilst avoiding the through-life cost and complexity of a four-engine power train. Engine room accessibility is improved over a four-engine arrangement, and maintenance and operational requirements are reduced.

Kilimanjaro VII impressed on the sea trials last week, operating at a fully loaded speed of 30 knots at low proportion of MCR to offer very long engine life. She has a top speed in excess of 37 knots and has proven smooth and quiet. For passenger comfort and to assist seakeeping, the vessel is fitted with a Naiad active interceptor system, whilst IMO HSC code-compliant stability enhances her safety credentials. The journey between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar is around 42 nautical miles and should take approximately one hour and 45 minutes.

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