Damen Shipyards has signed a contract to build a new Fast Ferry 4212 (FFe 4212) for South Korean ferry operator KT Marine.
Damen-built Fast Ferries have become an increasingly common sight in South Korean waters in recent years, with this latest vessel for KT Marine marking the seventh Damen Fast Ferry built for the Korean market and the fifth to be built for South Korean operators.
The FFe 4212 is a 42-metre aluminium catamaran that can carry up to 423 passengers. Powered by four main engines delivering 5,760 bkW of power to four waterjets, the vessel has a maximum speed of 40 knots.
KT Marine will deploy the new vessel on a route between Yeosu harbour and Geomundo Island (off the south coast of South Korea).
“The Fast Ferry 4212 from Damen excels in both quality and delivery time,” said Mr. Og Yeol Bag, President of KT Marine, after signing the contract with Damen. “In addition, our management team holds a strong belief that our choice of Damen for the Fast Ferry 4212 will enable us to elevate our service to the highest standards, comfort and reliability for our valued customers.”
KT Marine is a new client for Damen, a fact referred to by Damen’s Regional Sales Director Asia-Pacific Thomas Röwekamp shortly after signing the contract. “We are honoured to welcome KT Marine into the Damen family,” he said. “They reviewed all the options available before choosing our successful Fast Ferry 4212. The proven and reliable Fast Ferry 4212 will be yet another great addition to South Korea’s ferry market and of course for the scenic route from Yeosu to Geomundo Island.”
Thanks to Damen’s speculative building strategy, KT Marine’s new FFe 4212 is already under construction at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam and is expected to be ready for delivery by mid-2024.
