Dublin Swift in August 2018
History
Cyprus
Name
  • 2001-2018 WestPac Express (HSV-4676)
  • 2018-present Dublin Swift
Owner
Operator
Port of registryLimassol
RouteDublin-Holyhead
BuilderAustal, Henderson, Western Australia
Yard number130
Launched26 March 2001
Completed2001
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeRoll-on/roll-off catamaran
Tonnage2,111 tons (light)
Length100.99 m (331.3 ft)
Beam26.64 m (87.4 ft)
Draft4.29 m (14.1 ft) (fully loaded)
Installed powerFour Caterpillar 3618 diesel engines each producing 7,200 kW @ 1,050 rpm
PropulsionWater-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
Crew
  • 11 military
  • 13 civilian

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 Navy's 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.

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 Jonathan Swift on Irish Ferries' Dublin to Holyhead route.[10][11][12] It entered service in April 2018.[13][14]

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.[15][16]

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. 1 2 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. ↑ News in brief Ships Monthly April 2018 page 10
  14. ↑ First look: Dublin Swift, the new fast ferry to Holyhead Irish Times 14 May 2018
  15. ↑ Austral Awarded Joint High Speed Vessel Contract Austal 14 November 2008
  16. ↑ Austal Delivers Expeditionary Fast Transport the USNS Burlington (EPF 10) to the US Navy Austal 16 November 2018

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