MAY 20, 2013 — Queensland, Australia, shipbuilder Aluminium Marine has delivered Cobia, the fourth vessel to be built to a new 24 m catamaran Incat Crowther design, following on from Fantasea Sunrise, Freedom Sovereign and Riverside Avalon. The vessel is owned by Queensland operator Cruise Whitsundays, which serves Australia's Whitsunday Islands.

Incat Crowther says that the design, featuring modern sleek styling, efficient construction, and a robust and stable hull, has been utilized for a number of Queensland operations, with the vessels proving successful in the Whitsundays, Yeppoon and Gladstone.

Cobia seats 124 passengers in its main deck cabin, with a large bar / kiosk located aft. Three toilets are located across the aft end of the deck, one of which is wheelchair accessible.

Entry and exit are aided by a pair of midship boarding doors, in addition to the stern gates.

The upper deck cabin accommodates 44 passengers, with 26 outdoor seats aft. An additional WC is located in the aft end of the upper deck cabin.

Cobia also features structure for a lifting stern platform, allowing for the simple retrofit of such a feature at a later date.

The vessel is powered by twin Yanmar 6AYM-GTE main engines, driving a pair of 5-bladed fixed-pitch propellers. Capable of speeds in excess of 27 knots, Cobia easily achieved its loaded service speed of 25 knots at 85% MCR on recent sea trials.

Length Overall:     24.0 m
Length Waterline:     23.8 m
Beam:     8.5 m
Draft Hull:     1.1 m
Draft Max:     1.7 m
Passengers:     194
Crew:     5
Fuel:     4 000 litres
Fresh Water:     500 litres
Sullage:     500 litres
Service Speed:     25 knots
Maximum Speed:     27 knots
Main Engines:     2 x Yanmar 6AYM-GTE
Installed Power:     2 x 618 kW
Propulsion:     2 x Propellers
Construction Material:     Marine Grade Aluminum
Flag:     Australia
Class:     NSCV 1C