Ares Hires BMT Nigel Gee to Design New Ferry Series

BMT Nigel Gee, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, will design a series of eight Qatar-bound luxury passenger ferries, to be built by Ares Shipyard, thus resuming collaboration with the shipyard.

Kerim Kalafatoglu, Managing Director of Ares Shipyard explains: “There are very few design companies who are able to develop robust design solutions, as well as provide suitable levels of support during such an aggressive build schedule. Ares chose BMT Nigel Gee after successful collaboration on other recent design and build projects.”

At 18m long with a beam of 6.7m, the composite catamaran design will be able to carry up to 51 passengers in comfort and style. Transporting guests to the new Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa, 11km east of Doha, the vessel has been designed to be highly capable and have the visual appearance to match.

The vessels will be capable of a maximum speed of 27 knots, and a general service speed of 22 knots meaning that a typical passage from Doha to the resort will be in the region of 16 minutes. In order to support the opening of the resort, Ares Shipyard will deliver the first two vessels in February 2014 – only five months after being awarded the contract. The remaining six vessels will be delivered within 18 months thereafter.

Business class seating and refreshment facilities are provided on board, within a fully air conditioned passenger saloon.

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Press Release, January 7, 2014