As this issue closed For press, it was uncertain whether Incat Tasmania Evolution 10B Incat 059 would be leaving Hobart on delivery to Bay Ferries in Canada, as planned, at the beginning of April. The contract has been thrown into doubt by the appointment of a receiver at Incat Chartering.

The vessel was launched at the end of February and sea trials were scheduled for late March. Bay Ferries intended to introduce the Evolution 10B on its route between Yarmouth. Nova Scotia. and Bar Harbor. Maine. The service has been operated each summer since 1998 by Incat 91m wavepiercer Incat 046.

Bay Ferries is due to reintroduce its fast ferry service on May 23. This year's 21 week season ends on October 16. Incat 046 has just completed a third and final season on charter to TT-Line. who operated it across Bass Strait during December 16-April 7. The Australian operator has recently opted to replace its existing ship and leased wavepiercer with conventional tonnage.

　

Incat 059

Incat 059 is the third Evolution 10B lunched by Incat Tasmania. The vessel is very similar to the first two, the major difference involves the seating configuration on the passenger deck. There are a total of 951 seats in seven saloon areas and two bars. Maximum capacity is 900 passengers and crew.

The first Evolution 10B. The Lynx. has been in service in New Zealand with Tranz Rail since December 2000. The second. launched in February 2001. remains at the yard. The fourth is scheduled to be completed within the next three months.

　

　

　

Incat Tasmania has released details of a larger version of its Evolution 10 wavepiercing catamaran. Known as the Evolution 10b, the new design is 1.2m longer overall, 6.0m longer on the water-line and 0.4m wider. Maximum dead-weight is approximately 75 tonnes more, allowing the company to increase vehicle capacity by thirty 4.5m x 2.3m cars and add 50 metres of 3.1 m wide x 4.35m high truck lanes.

Powered by identical engines, driving Lips 120E waterjets via Reintjes gearboxes, the Evolution 10b is expected to have the same full load speed as the Evolution 10,38 knots at 100% mcr with no T-foils fitted. Design changes include the option of a single retractable T-foil, located on the aft end of the centre bow, in place of fixed T-foils forward on the hulls.

The third Evolution 10 built is scheduled to leave Hobart this month on delivery to Lineas Fred. Olsen, who has recently decided to extend its initial charter on 96m wavepiercer Bonanza Express. The fourth Evolution 10, for which a contract has yet to be announced, is available for delivery during the second quarter of 2000.

This will be followed by the first Evolution 10b, Incat 057, which has been leased for three weeks in September and October by the Australian Trade Commission, who is to use it as a venue for entertaining business executives while the Olympic Games are being held in Sydney.