VESSEL REVIEW | GSC 1 & GSC 2 – Cruise tenders built for shuttle service in the Bahamas

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has taken delivery of two new catamaran passenger tenders in a series.

Stationed at NCL’s base at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, the 24.7- by eight-metre GSC 1 and GSC 2 are each capable of transporting 354 passengers in comfort and safety from the company’s cruise ships to its private island resort. The catamaran hulls were designed to be deep for maximum comfort.

The main deck on each tender has seating for 164 passengers and two wheelchair-accesible spaces as well as a wheelchair lift to provide access to the upper deck. Of the three toilets in this area, one is wheelchair-accessible.

Each vessel’s upper deck meanwhile has 188 indoor passenger seats and a covered outdoor area also fitted with seats.

The design of each vessel has optimised disembarkation and boarding via bespoke main deck bow ramps that interface with the existing tender docks at NCL’s Great Stirrup Cay resort, while disembarkation and boarding are also possible from two access points on the upper deck.

Power for each vessel is provided by two Caterpillar C12 engines, each rated 339 kW at 2,100 rpm, driving fixed-pitch propellers. A 21kW generator is also fitted to supply power for all onboard systems.

The NCL cruise tenders were built to comply with Bahamas flag requirements.

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