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TRADE SHOW PREVIEW Cruise + Ferry '95 According to a survey of exhibitors conducted by the organizers of Cruise + Ferry '95, 90 per- cent expect the world fleet of cruise ships to grow by at least 10 percent over the next 10 years, while 80 percent expect the number of conven- tional ferries to remain stable or to increase. Cruise + Ferry '95 is scheduled to take place at Olympia 2, part of London's Olympia exhibition facility, from May 16 to 18. The show and conference has attracted exhibitors from 18 coun- tries including the U.K., Finland, Germany, Den- mark, Spain, Canada, France, Sweden, Italy, and Australia. Ten national pavilions include Austria, Norway and the U.S. Shipyards taking part include the five leading cruise shipbuilders: KvaernerMasa, Fincantieri, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Meyer Werft and Bremer Vulkan. Equipment suppliers, outfitters and refurbishers are also well represented, as are designers, port authorities and destination de- velopers. Cruise & Ferry Market: Massive Expansion To Come A "period of restraint" is likely to be overtaken by a period of investment in new cruise ships with an average of eight vessels and 13,000 berths per annum due to enter service between 1995 and 1997, with a peak in 1996 when 13 vessels comprising 16,330 berths are due for delivery, reported G P Wild's International Cruise Market Monitor late last year. It estimated a 68 percent increase in cruise ship passengers between 1988 and 1994 and predicted an increase from 6.1 million to 8.1 million passengers by 1997. Where The Business Will Be "Quite a number of conventional ferries will be replaced by fast ferries," says the Propjet high-speed, high-power, gearbox supplier MAAG Gear. The Swiss company recently secured or- ders for a number of high-tech projects, such as further gearboxes for the Stena HSS and two Kvaerner Fjellstrand Foilcats. Exhibitors pin the expected overall boom down to a combination of improved economic condi- tions, increased leisure time and demands for faster travel, and more comfort and safety. "Air congestion, pollution, higher incomes, and the drive for speed," said a representative from shipbuilder Mjellem & Karlsen. The com- pany has a new monohull fast ferry, built for European Ferries Denmark AS, coming into Cruise & Ferry '95 Times & Places Admission to the exhibition is free to accredited industry executives. Opening times are: Tuesday, May 16 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 18 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. operation between Grenaa and Hundested dur- ing the Cruise + Ferry '95 exhibition. Newbuilds are not the only cause for confi- dence within the industry. Substantial refur- bishment and refitting — driven primarily by safety issues — is also predicted by Cruise + Ferry '95 exhibitors. Sixty percent expect 30 percent or more of the cruise ship fleet to be refurbished or refitted within the next 10 years; while 10 percent are expecting half of the fleet or more to receive attention. Half the exhibitors expect 30 percent or more of ferries to be refur- bished or refitted and 30 percent expect the newer fleet of fast ferries to be upgraded. Asked to grade the driving forces for these updates, exhibitors identified safety as topping the list, followed by product enhancement and efficiency of operation. Other factors included: environmental factors; carrying capacity/speed; and obsolescence/technical advance. Fast Ferries: Future's Bright Those involved in fast ferries are excited about the unlimited prospects for these fast developing craft. The survey of Cruise + Ferry '95 exhibitors revealed that all expect the number of fast ferries to rise in the next 10 years; half expect a 30 percent increase. In this atmosphere, claims of the fastest or biggest are soon overtaken. "Startup routes are being actively sought by entrepreneurial operators and shipowners," said a representative of Incat Australia. Having completed a new shipyard investment, the com- pany is now able to build up to seven vessels a year capable of breaking the 50-knot speed bar- rier. The owner and operator of two 256-ft. (78-m) Incat fast ferries, Holyman, will also be exhibit- ing at the show. "Passengers wish to travel more and more quickly," said a representative from FBM Ma- rine. The shipbuilder and designer claims its 147.6-ft. (45-m) TriCat is "the fastest passenger catamaran in the world." It has five of these low wash vessels under construction for Hong Kong operators, each powered by gas turbines and offering a maximum speed of 50 knots. "High speed ferries will replace conventional ferries," said a representative from Advanced Multi-Hull Designs, the Cruise + Ferry '95 ex- hibitor that claims design responsibility for the world's largest high-speed ferry (the 328-ft. (100- m} AMD 1500 Mkll wave-piercing catamaran with a maximum speed of 35.5 knots) and the world's fastest high-speed car ferry (the 229.6-ft. {70-m) K55 cat powered by four Caterpillar 3616 diesel engines driving KaMeWa 80 waterjets and capable of 50 knots). Other ferry companies at the show include Swede Ship, builder of more than 100 fast ferries including the new rough weather Westamarin Foilcat 3000 and the recently developed Foilcat 2900. A representative of Leroux et Lotz, which will be showing details of its Corsaire range of fast ferries, includingthe 11000,6000/7000, and 4000/ 5000, said the excellent seakeeping qualities of monohulls are scoring now with operators. A number of exhibitors mentioned the Far East as an important market for fast ferries. Among these is shipbroker Harpain Shipping, New to the market is the IRIS Catamarans. Late last year the company (IRIS stands for InteR Islands Shuttle) launched its new concept in high speed passenger craft. Designed to carry up to 120 people at speeds up to 36 knots, the vessels makes use of fiberglass materials for construction. To date, three 124.6-ft. (38-m) craft have been designed, featuring interchangeable passenger and freight modules. which is forecasting a 30 percent increase in the world fleet of fast ferries over the next 10 years. "Asian countries are developing such that they are now becoming able to afford high-speed ferries," agrees Wavemaster International. "Tech- nology is also developing such that high-speed ferries are able to transport both cars and pas- sengers very economically." New to the market is IRIS Catamarans. Late last year the company (IRIS stands for InteR Islands Shuttle) launched a new concept in high- speed passenger craft. Its idea is to build a range of multimodal catamarans that will carry both passengers, containers and outside loads, thus optimizing usage in cases of fluctuating seasonal demand. Three 124.6-ft. (38-m) craft have been designed, powered by high-speed diesel engines driving waterjets, and featuring interchange- able passenger and freight modules. Capable of carrying up to 120 passengers at speeds of up to 36 knots, the vessels make use of fiberglass materials and construction techniques. IRIS is not the only company coming up with innovative ideas. Royal Schelde, which will include on its stand a model of the 249-ft. (76-m) car carrying catamaran it is building for Cata- maran Lines Shipping, has been working on the design and production of a RoRo trailer carrier and an amphibious transport ship for the Royal Dutch Navy. The exhibition is held in conjunction with the Cruise + Ferry '95 conference. For more informa- tion, contact: Cruise + Ferry Secretariat, 2 Sta- tion Road, Rickmansworth, Herts, England WD3 1QP; tel: +44 1923 776363; fax: +44 1923 777206. LOOK to Maritime Reporter's May 1995 edition for: • Cruise + Ferry Exhibitor previews • Fast Ferry Review 62 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
