VESSEL REVIEW | Kalibobo Express – New inter-island catamaran for Papua New Guinea operator

Thailand's Seacat Ships has delivered a new catamaran ferry to Melanesian Tourist Service, an inter-island vessel operator based in Madang in the northern part of Papua New Guinea.

Named Kalibobo Express, the all-aluminium ferry was designed by Sea Speed Design of Brisbane, Australia in compliance to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's NSCV Class 1B requirements. The newbuild may also be operated as a tour boat if needed.

Kalibobo Express has an LOA of 22.1 metres, a beam of seven metres, a draught of 1.75 metres, a displacement of 45 tonnes, and capacity for 150 passengers. The main cabin has seating for 90 people while 16 tourist-class seats are installed in an air-conditioned cabin located just behind the wheelhouse. Outdoor seating is also available for 48 people on the upper deck.

All the passenger seats are aluminium benches. For the tourist-class seats, waterproof cushions are also fitted. The interior floors are covered in non-skid material, which also facilitates ease of cleaning.

The vessel's layout allows passengers to safely and quickly board and disembark via aft stations and additionally via beach loading facilities over the bow. The layout also enables the crew to oversee loading and unloading of passengers at three separate stations.

Sea Speed said the design boasts durability and seakeeping necessary for operation in offshore waters. It is a modernised variant of an earlier Sea Speed rough weather-capable rescue boat design that was originally delivered in 1997 and is still in use. The company upgraded the scantlings for Lloyd's SSC Code 150 Nautical Miles/NSCV 1B standard and increased the tunnel height and slightly plumbed up the bow to increase the waterline length. The result is a vessel that can run smoothly in high sea conditions, thanks to the deep vee hulls and aero foil mini keels, which provide improved tracking in following seas.

Two John Deere 6135 SFM85-M4 diesel engines that each produce 484 kW at 2,100 rpm drive conventional propellers via ZF 500-1A gearboxes to deliver a maximum speed of 26 knots at full load and a range of 500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 20 knots. The propulsion arrangement also includes an electric-hydraulic steering system.

The communication and navigation electronics include a sonar, plotters, and GPS from Simrad, an ICOM radio, a Ritchie compass, and a Systems Advantage fire alarm. The onboard systems are supplied with power from a Zenith 40kVA generator.

The windows are made from toughened safety glass while Jotun paint was used on the exterior surfaces. The interiors meanwhile benefit from a Diacon split-type AC unit.

The ferry is also equipped with three 50-person liferafts should emergency evacuation become necessary.

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