Incat Crowther announced that Hydrus, the first in a series of 400 passenger catamaran ferries for WETA, the Water and Emergency Transportation Authority in San Francisco, is completed and has entered service. The company says that Hydrus features an efficient design and it is ”very environmentally friendly”. The ferry also has an efficient layout that minimizes noise ingress to the cabins and has minimal effect of passenger flow and operations.
Hydrus is powered by a pair of MTU 12V4000M64 EPA III main engines, each producing 1453kW. One of the earliest passenger vessels to enter service with advanced exhaust after treatment, the system ensures Hydrus complies with the latest US emissions regulations and is one of the lowest emission ferries currently operating in North America.
Following trials of the first vessel, two additional vessels were ordered by WETA. “The four Vigor vessels will play critical roles in maintaining service reliability in WETA’s planned expansion of the ferry service on the San Francisco Bay” said Nina Rannells, WETA Executive Director.
Hydrus has a top speed of 29 knots and a service speed of 27 knots under full load at reduced MCR. The vessel also demonstrates low wake wash characteristics.
Hydrus will be joined mid-year by a second vessel, Cetus, with a further two vessels due in 2018.
