Tanzania operator orders third catamaran ferry from Dutch designer

Zan Fast Ferries Company of Tanzania has ordered a third high-speed passenger catamaran ferry from Dutch naval architects CoCo Yachts.

The new vessel will serve the Dar-es-Salaam to Zanzibar route alongside Zanzibar 1 and Zanzibar 2, the first two CoCo-designed ferries in the Zan Fast fleet.

The third ferry will be designed in accordance with RINA and HSC 2000 rules to ensure safe sailing even in significant wave heights of up to four metres. Its service speed will be 32.5 knots at 90 per cent MCR courtesy of two MTU 16V4000M63L engines driving MJP 750 DRB waterjets.

The vessel will have an LOA of 49.72 metres, a beam of 11.2 metres, and a maximum draught of 1.4 metres. Up to 318 passengers can be accommodated in the economy section on the main deck while the upper deck will have seating for 231 economy-class passengers and 50 business-class passengers.

As with Zanzibar 1 and Zanzibar 2, the new ferry will also have a Humphree automatic ride control system.

CoCo Yachts said delivery is scheduled for no later than the second quarter of 2023.