VESSEL REVIEW | Island Odyssey – New vehicle ferry to serve Australia's Southern Moreton Bay Islands

A new Ro-Pax ferry has entered operational service in the waters off the Southern Moreton Bay Islands community in South East Queensland, Australia.

Designed by local naval architecture firm Seatransport and built by Harwood Marine of New South Wales, Island Odyssey has a length of 44.9 metres (147 feet), a beam of 16.5 metres (54.1 feet), and space for up to 44 standard cars as well as trucks.

Modern amenities coupled with significant short-haul transport capacity

The vehicle spaces include two truck lanes and four car lanes, all without height restrictions for trucks to enable the ferry to also serve as a lifeline vessel if needed. Loading and unloading are done via bow and stern ramps, thus allowing the vessel to reduce turnaround times in port.

The ferry also boasts modern amenities intended to offer both comfort and convenience. Facilities include an air-conditioned lounge and a sun deck that can accommodate 199 passengers and crew, a cafe, a wheelchair lift for access between the vehicle deck and the passenger lounge, and a toilet that may also be used by individuals with reduced mobility.

The onboard safety features consist of a main deck spray rail for extinguishing electric vehicle fires, multiple firefighting pumps, a foam monitor for open vehicle deck fires, a deluge system beneath the cafe deck, and other fixed fire suppression systems.

Power for the vessel is provided by four Scania D13 engines connected to Twin Disc gearboxes.

First in a new fleet to serve South East Queensland

Another vessel from the same series built by Harwood Marine and designed by Seatransport is scheduled to enter service alongside Island Odyssey on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands route before the end of this year.

The introduction of these vessels is expected to double the existing ferry capacity on the route to accommodate growing demand from residents and tourists alike.

Editor’s note: Most photographs of the completed ferry show Mirrabooka painted on the hull. However, Island Odyssey was eventually selected to be the final name.