A look at the sea trials and interior of the Austal Passenger Express 83 trimaran, designed and constructed for JR Kyushu Jet Ferry of Japan, and delivered in September 2020.
The 'Queen Beetle' is an 83.5 metre high-speed aluminium passenger ferry designed and constructed by Austal Australia in Henderson, Western Australia. The ship can transport 502 passengers and 20 crew at a cruising speed of 36.9 knots (85%MCR).
Queen Beetle is the first high-speed trimaran ferry to be delivered to and operate in Japan. JR Kyushu Jet Ferry selected the Austal trimaran design to replace one of its ‘Beetle’ jetfoil vessels, and will operate between Fukuoka, Japan and Busan, South Korea.
With features that are focused on delivering a unique, comfortable and memorable experience for all passengers, the Queen Beetle features a number of design innovations that set a new benchmark for international maritime travel.
The sleek-looking, distinctively red-painted trimaran can carry 502 passengers in two classes of seating across two main passenger decks, plus an exclusive ‘sun room’ on the Bridge Deck. Seating includes luxuriously appointed reclining seats with footrests, personal reading lights, coat hooks and individual USB ports that allow mobile device charging. There are also group seating configurations available, with folding tables for families, plus unallocated lounge seating available for all guests to utilise use during their journey. Importantly, and unlike the jetfoils she is replacing, Queen Beetle has no seat-belts, allowing passengers complete freedom of movement during their journey.
The passenger saloons also feature wheelchair access between decks by way of a ramp, two kiosks with bars, a duty-free store, multiple vending machines, powder rooms, luggage lockers, a children’s play area and multiple flat-screen televisions for on board entertainment. Large, panoramic windows enhance the passenger experience, offering unsurpassed views from all public areas of the vessel, while two external sundecks, forward and aft, allow passengers to enjoy fresh air and views, while the vessel is travelling at lower speeds.
Constructed at Austal’s Australian shipyard, the all-aluminium catamaran has a service speed of 37 knots (but achieved 40+ knots during sea trials) and is powered by 4 x MTU 16V 1163 M74 engines, ZF 40060NR2H gearboxes and 4 x Kongsberg S90-4 waterjets. Queen Beetle also features Austal’s proprietary MARINELINK monitoring and control system, providing real-time on-board and remote analysis of key vessel operating systems; and Austal’s MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM, comprising 1 active T-foil forward with 2 x roll control foils aft and interceptors on the transom aft - providing a superior ride with less motion and greater passenger and crew comfort for every journey, in various sea states.
More information, including a datasheet and general arrangement is available on the Austal website - www.austal.com