HSC Dublin Swift

Dublin Swift is a high-speed catamaran built in 2001 by Austal as a passenger and vehicle catamaran ferry. After conversion to a Maritime Prepositioning ship the vessel was chartered by the United States Marine Corps' Military Sealift Command until January 2018 as WestPac Express. It was then converted for civilian use as a passenger ferry by Irish Ferries and renamed Dublin Swift.

Dublin Swift as WestPac Express in Henderson, Western Australia in June 2007
History
Cyprus
Name:
  • 2001-2018 WestPac Express (HSV-4676)
  • 2018-present Dublin Swift
Owner:
Operator:
Port of registry: Limassol
Route: Dublin-Holyhead
Builder: Austal, Henderson, Western Australia
Yard number: 130
Completed: 2001
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Roll-on/roll-off catamaran
Tonnage: 2,111 tons (light)
Length: 100.99 m (331.3 ft)
Beam: 26.64 m (87.4 ft)
Draft: 4.29 m (14.1 ft) (fully loaded)
Installed power: Four Caterpillar 3618 diesel engines each producing 7,200 kW @ 1,050 rpm
Propulsion: Water-jet propulsion
Speed:
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (economical)
  • 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) (warranted)
Range:
  • 1,240 nmi @ 33 kn (laden)
  • 2,182 nmi @ 20 kn (laden)
  • 2,927 nmi @ 20 kn (ballast)
Capacity:
  • Troop capacity:
  • 970
  • Cargo capacity:
  • 20,698 square feet: Designed for roll on/roll off service (typical loads - 153 HUMMWVs or 12 AAVPs and 20 LAVs)
Crew:
  • 11 military
  • 13 civilian

History

After a demonstration in 2001, Austal signed a three-year lease with Military Sealift Command for the WestPac Express.[1][2][3]

In March 2011, the WestPac Express was deployed as part of the US response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[4] In recognition of this service, Admiral Mark Buzby presented the ship’s crew with United States Merchant Marine Outstanding Achievement Medal at a ceremony on board the ship in Yokohama, Japan.[5] The lease was renewed successively until the end of 2017.[6][7]

In April 2016 WestPac Express was sold to Irish Continental Group, who continued to lease it to the Military Sealift Command until the end of 2017.[7][8][9]

With its charter to the US Navy completed, in January 2018 WestPac Express arrived in Belfast for refurbishment at Harland & Wolff to replace the Jonathon Swift on Irish Ferries' Dublin to Holyhead route.[10][11][12] It entered service in April 2018.[13]

Follow on orders

With a design based on the WestPac Express, Austal USA built 10 Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessels for use by the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps and the United States Coast Guard with a further two on order.[14][15]

Dublin Swift in August 2018

References
  1. US Military Breakthrough Austral 3 July 2001
  2. Austal Secures Landmark Ferry Contract with United States Military Austral 31 January 2002
  3. WestPac Express Austal
  4. "Navy.mil - View Image". www.navy.mil.
  5. US Military Signs New Charter for Austal High Speed Vessel Defpro
  6. US Navy extends Austal charter The West Australian 6 October 2014
  7. WestPac Express completes 16 year charter Defence Connect 11 January 2018
  8. "ICG takes delivery of WestPac Express". irishtimestimes.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  9. Irish Ferries Owner Acquire Fast-Ferry for $13.25m Afloat 15 April 2016
  10. "Irish Continental Group plc : Sale of Jonathan Swift". otp.investis.com. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  11. "H&W visitors: WestPac Express (Austal #130) - NI Ferry Site ~ www.niferry.co.uk ~". NI Ferry Site ~ www.niferry.co.uk ~. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  12. "Dublin Swift (ex Westpac Express) update". NI Ferry Site. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  13. First look: Dublin Swift, the new fast ferry to Holyhead Irish Times 14 May 2018
  14. Austral Awarded Joint High Speed Vessel Contract Austal 14 November 2008
  15. Austal Delivers Expeditionary Fast Transport the USNS Burlington (EPF 10) to the US Navy Austal 16 November 2018

Media related to IMO 9243227 at Wikimedia Commons

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