Vessels — High Speed


Hornblower develops and manages a variety of marine transportation programs for Federal, State and City governments, as well as for the private sector. Following is a brief description of vessels in our high-speed fleet. For more information, contact us.

TSV, WestPac Express — Okinawa, Japan

West Pac Express

The vessel is a roll-on-roll-off all aluminum construction with 40,000 horsepower and KaMeWa jet drives. It is chartered by the United States military to provide services to the United States Marines based in Okinawa, Japan, to transport military personnel and their equipment over a 1,200 mile range.
 
Specifications:
  • IMO Type Rating
  • 101 meter catamaran
  • 970 passengers/236 vehicles
  • First U.S. Flag car/passenger ferry
  • Speed 40 knots

Hawaii SuperFerry

Hawaii SuperFerry

In June 2004, Hornblower Marine Services, Inc. signed a Marine Management Operating Agreement and Construction Oversight contract for the new Hawaii SuperFerry operation, an inter-island ferry service for passengers and vehicles to four islands in Hawaii.
 
Specifications:
  • Under construction by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.
  • 900 passengers / 250 vehicles
  • 1-2 round trips daily to four islands
  • Service expected to begin in 2007

Lake Express LLC — Lake Michigan

Lake Express Ferry

In December, 2002, HMS-Wisconsin Inc. entered a four-year contract with Lake Express LLC to act as Owners' Representative for the construction and operation of this new high-speed catamaran built at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.
 
Specifications:
  • 58 meter car/passenger ferry
  • Route is Lake Michigan from Milwaukee to Muskegon
  • 70 nautical miles / 2.5 hour crossing time
  • 253 passengers / 46 autos
  • Speed of 34 knots
  • Four MTU Series diesel engines / KaMeWa waterjets
  • Built by Austal USA

Canadian American Transportation Systems (CATS) — Lake Ontario

Canadian American Transportation Systems (CATS)

A high-speed ferry, the Spirit of Ontario commenced operations in the summer of 2004, on an international route from Rochester, N.Y. to Toronto, Canada.
 
Specifications:
  • 86.6 meter car / passenger ferry
  • Route runs Lake Ontario from Rochester to Toronto
  • 86 nautical miles / 2.5 hour crossing time
  • 774 passengers / 238 autos
  • Speed of 42 knots
  • Built by Austal Australia

Bahamas Florida Express

Bahama Florida Express

This is one of the highest speed vessels in North America, operating an international route from Port Everglades, Fla. to Grand Bahama Island.
 
Specifications:
  • INCAT 98 meter wave-piercing catamaran
  • 900 passengers / 250 autos / 14 buses
  • Speed of 45 knots

Bahamas Fast Ferries

Bahamas Fast Ferries

The ferry service provides high-speed passenger transportation between Nassau, Harbor Island, Eleuthera, and other destinations within the Bahamas for both visitors and Bahamian residents.
 
Specifications:
  • 35 meter Solent Class high-speed catamaran "Bo Hengy"
  • Designed by FBM LTD
  • Built by Pequot River Shipworks
  • 177 passengers
  • Speed of 35 knots