Austal, MTU offer new high-speed catamaran to military
Austal Ships and MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH have developed a new high-speed catamaran with possible use by the U.S. military.
The 284-foot vessel features multi-hull technology. Traveling at 45.7 knots, it can transport up to 774 passengers and up to 238 cars or 10 full-size trucks.
“It meets the U.S. national security demands for a modern, highly agile and utmost efficient fleet,” said the companies in a joint statement.
One of these new vessels, the “Spirit of Ontario,” will operate commercially between Rochester, N.Y. and Toronto. “The ship servicing the Canadian American Transportation System will be the first super-ferry to be home-ported in the United States and lead the way to wider high-speed ferry use in major metropolitan areas,” the companies said.
The U.S. Marine Corps has used a large Austal catamaran as a troop and equipment transporter for about three years. The company is working with General Dynamics on a bid for the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship project.