New Fast Ferry ‘Dolphin Jet’ to Reduce Its Sailing Speed (Denmark)

Stringent conditions for approving the passage of Kattegatruten’s new fast ferry between Aarhus and Kalundborg stipulate that the fast ferry Dolphin Jet will have to reduce its sailing speed to 16 knots in Kalundborg Fjord, while the company’s cargo ship will be sailing at a speed ranging between 18 and 19 knots, JP Arhus writes.

“It is ridiculous that while there is a notice obliging the fast ferries to have both the itinerary and the ship approved, there is no such requirement for approval of other vessels,” Port Director Bent Rasmussen, Kalundborg Harbour, told JP Aarhus.

In 2012 the entire Kalundborg Fjord area was designated a conservation area – the so-called Natura 2000 area. The requirement for Dolphin Jet to slow down is set forth mostly to protect local birds, porpoises and seals. Therefore, Dolphin Jet will have to slow down to even 12 knots at the bottom of the fjord.

Ship surveyor at Danish Maritime Authority (DMA), Martin John, said to JP Aarhus that the requirement on regulating the speed of fast ferries is being imposed also due to the fact that they are designed differently. They are driven by turbines, which emit a different noise than ships with conventional screw-type propellers.

After many delays, Kattegatruten launched its new fast ferry service between Aarhus and Kalundborg on July 21.

Dolphin Jet has set up two daily departures from both Aarhus and Kalundborg seven days a week, in order to test the customers’ demand.

On August 13 the company will publish a new timetable.

The HSC Dolphin Jet, an 86 m (282 ft) fast catamaran ferry has been in Kattegatruten’s service, a Danish company that operates a passenger and freight service across the Kattegat, since June 28, 2012. The ferry covers the company’s Aarhus–Kalundborg route with a crossing time of approx. 2 hours.

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World Maritime News Staff, August 9, 2012; Image: FRS