Incat Crowther recently announced the launch of the 101'1"x27'11"x9'3" ferry Maggie Cat, an Incat Crowther 31 that will partner Coolgaree Cat in a refreshed Sealink line-up operating out of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Coolgaree Cat entered service in late 2020 and operates between Townsville and Palm Island. The 340-passenger aluminum Maggie Cat, which has a 4'4" (hull)/6'11" (prop) draft, will operate as SeaLink’s flagship to Magnetic Island.
Both ferries were developed in close collaboration with Sealink, with a goal of through-life efficiency, durability and robustness in the open waters off Townsville. With Incat Crowther’s efficiency gains, Maggie Cat’s fuel burn is the same as the vessel it replaces, despite being a more sea-capable vessel with increased amenities, including an extra sun deck and a higher passenger capacity.
Maggie Cat features a narrower overall beam than Coolgaree Cat, and while the vessels are interchangeable, Maggie Cat is configured for the shorter, more frequent Magnetic Island service.
Boarding is through a port side midship boarding door and upper aft boarding gates. The main deck features 186 seats in a mix of booth and forward-facing, with deep windows designed to give the cabin a light and airy feel. There is a large kiosk aft, in addition to multiple storage areas.
The upper deck seats 64 inside the cabin. 26 exterior seats are available on the upper aft deck. A large portion of the aft deck is dedicated to containerized freight stowage, with space for nine luggage trolleys. The coamings of this deck have been reinforced to cope with the impact of the trolleys while loading gates are specifically located to work with existing infrastructure.
An additional feature of Maggie Cat is its sun deck with 48 seats and 360° visibility. The feature is a real draw card for tourists visiting the island and a great platform for whale watching, as is the expansive foredeck.
The vessel is fitted with twin Caterpillar C32 engines, delivering 895 kW (1,199 hp) at 2,000 rpm each. Propulsion comes from fixed-pitch Veem Interceptor propellers. In recent sea trials, Maggie Cat exceeded 31 knots. The vessel has a fuel-efficient fully loaded operational speed of 25 knots at low main engine MCR, offering increased time between main engine overhauls. Ship’s service power is the responsibility of two Cat C4.4 gensets.
According to Incat officials, Brisbane-based shipbuilders Commercial Marine Australia executed an exceptional build quality, supported by MET Services and Ultimate Marine Power. CMA and Incat Crowther's partnership and thoughtful innovation in delivering Maggie Cat has surpassed the client's expectations and is now having a real impact within the North Queensland fleet, becoming a firm favorite with crew and passengers, the company said.
Capacities include 1,268 gals. of fuel and 449 gals. freah water. Maggie Cat carries a crew of four.
Incat Crowther has a long-standing relationship with the Sealink, earning the company’s trust through proven well-considered and innovative vessel designs operating within the Sealink fleet.
With Coolgaree Cat and Maggie Cat, Incat Crowther has provided long-term, customer-centric value focused on efficiency, robustness, and passenger amenity.
