Incat Crowther to Design 48m Catmaran For Ultramar

Incat Crowther is pleased to announce that it is designing a fourth vessel for UltraMar of Cancun, Mexico. The 48m Catamaran Passenger Ferry, to be built at Midship Marine in Louisiana, USA, will operate on UltraMar’s busy Playa de Carmen – Cozumel run.

Following the success of the Incat Crowther designed Ultrajet I, Ultrajet II and Ultrajet III, UltraMar approached Incat Crowther to develop a high capacity boat for the operator’s demanding Cozumel operation. High on the priority list was loading and disembarking more than 800 passengers, upgraded cargo handling and a robust platform fit for high turnaround frequency and exposed dock facilities.

The vessel will be fitted with hinged boarding ramps. A pair will be located on the mid and main decks at amidships for passenger loading, whilst an aft pair will give direct access to the cargo room, which will be loaded via a portable conveyor belt. This cost effective system has been well proven on other Incat Crowther vessels where efficient turnaround of high passenger and cargo volumes has been a requirement.

The boarding ramps will be supplemented by large staircases inside and out to further aid movement.

218 passengers will be seated in the main deck aft cabin, whilst the forward end of the vessel’s main deck will feature a premium class area. This area will have 64 seats at increased pitch and width, fitted with folding tables. The foredeck will seat 50 passengers.

The Mid Deck seats 209 outside and 60 inside. There is a stage at the forward end of the outdoor seating area on this deck for Ultramar’s trademark musicians to entertain passengers. Above, the Roof Deck will seat 216.

The vessel will continue UltraMar’s commitment to an ultra-modern fleet, with the customer experience being enhanced by large windows with panoramic visibility. To be finished in UltraMar’s distinctive yellow and blue livery, the vessel will grab even more attention during evening service with the fitment of the operator’s signature underwater LED lighting.

The vessel will be powered by a pair of Yanmar 12AYM-WGT main engines, each producing 1340kW at 1900rpm, offering an efficient service speed of 24 knots, and a maximum speed of 28 knots.