BMT Delivers Triplet Ferries to Indian Islands

Three high speed aluminium catamaran ferries designed by BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, have safely arrived in India's Lakshadweep Islands.

The vessels, built by Penguin Shipyards International, Singapore, will provide a vital inter-island transport service in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep Administration (UTLA), a large outspread group of islands in the Arabian Sea, off the south-west coast of India.

The ferries are capable of carrying 154 with a crew of 10, and have a top speed of 25 knots. The trio represent leading ferry technology, built to the highest international standards and fully compliant with IMO HSC 2000. The vessels will add significantly to the developing transport network around the islands reducing transit times and improving inter-island connectivity.

The ferries were specifically designed by BMT to cope with the harsh weather conditions around the islands and incorporate a high performance hull form with an active ride control motion damping system as well as higher freeboard and tunnel clearance for improved seakeeping.

The three vessels made their delivery voyage from Singapore together under their own power demonstrating their robust construction and suitability for operations around the island chain.

John Bonafoux, Managing Director of BMT Nigel Gee, commented: "The new SCI vessels will provide the Lakshadweep Islands with the reliable and tough inter-island transportation that the region needs. They will cut journey times between islands dramatically and withstand the unforgiving weather in the region."