DUBLIN SWIFT (ex WESTPAC EXPRESS) update

The conversion and refurbishment of Irish Ferries’ DUBLIN SWIFT at Harland & Wolff continues, with the Austal AutoExpress Catamaran currently scheduled to leave Belfast Dry Dock this coming Tuesday.  NIFS understand she will then make the short journey to return to the Ship Repair Quay (SRQ) for further work to continue.  As can be seen in these pictures taken yesterday by Gary Hall, DUBLIN SWIFT has been repainted with the application of her new livery almost complete.  Since her arrival in Belfast on the 14th of January a comprehensive refurbishment has taken place onboard the former US Military craft, both above and below deck.

DUBLIN SWIFT is expected to replace the current fast-craft JONATHAN SWIFT during April on the busy Dublin to Holyhead route, where she will offer an alternative for passengers to the conventional vessels ULYSSES and EPSILON.  The sale of JONATHAN SWIFT to Spanish operator Balearia has already been agreed, and it is expected that she will be renamed CECILIA PAYNE for service from Denia to Ibiza then Palma.

DUBLIN SWIFT
IMO number	9243227
Built	2001 Austal Ships, Australia
Yard number	130
Class	DNV GL 100 A5 HSC-Passenger B Ro-Ro Type OC3
Owner	Irish Continental Group (ICG)
Previous Operator	Seaward Services (on behalf of the US Military)
Current Operator
Length Overall (between perpendiculars)	101 metres 86.2m
Breadth	26.64 metres
Draught	4.29 metres
Gross tonnage (as built)	8403
Machinery	4 x Caterpillar 3618 V18 marine-diesel main engines, each producing 7,200 kW @ 1,050 rpm 4 x Reintjes VLJ 6831 gearboxes 4 x Rolls Royce KaMeWa 125 SII water jets
Service speed (with ride control)	35 knots
Fuel consumption	5.3t/h at 90% MCR
Passengers (as built)	970 (seating for 900)
Passengers (for Irish ferries)	900
Vehicle capacity (as built)	A total 251 cars housed on main vehicle deck and hoistable mezzanine deck occupying the full length of both wings of the main vehicle deck 16 articulated lorries (max) housed on the main vehicle deck only, with up to 96 cars also carried. 152 hummers occupying the entire vehicle carrying space of 20,698 square feet. (4.7 – 5.1m clear height on central main deck, 2.7m at the sides, and 2.0m clear height on mezzanine.)
Vehicle access	Bow and stern loading ramps.

Updated 21.08.19 – fixed broken images