BMT Nigel Gee is to design and manage an order for two ferries in the US.
Louisiana shipyard Metal Shark will build the 32-metre, 149-passenger aluminium catamarans for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA).
John Bonafoux, BMT Nigel Gee’s managing director, explains: “The proven eco-friendly design will greatly improve passenger comfort and have extremely low wash to provide minimal environmental impact."
The ferries will have a service speed of 22.5 knots.
BMT has recently signed a contract for similar vessels to connect Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.
RTA operates two ferries which were built in 1937 and 1977 to transport passengers in the New Orleans area across the Mississippi River.
Delivery of both vessels are scheduled for 2018.
