Austal unveils new trimaran ferry for Japanese operator

By Baird Maritime - February 27, 2020.

Austal has unveiled a new 83-metre trimaran ordered by JR Kyushu Jet Ferry of Japan.

The vessel, which will sail under the name Queen Beetle, is currently under construction at Austal’s Henderson shipyard and is scheduled for launch in mid-March 2020.

The ferry will be delivered to its new owners in June and will commence regular operations in July. It will transport a maximum of 502 passengers at speeds of up to 37 knots on the 115-nautical-mile route between Fukuoka and the South Korean city of Busan.

Austal CEO David Singleton said Queen Beetle will be the first high-speed trimaran ferry to be delivered to and operate in Japan.