HSC Dublin Swift explained

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]

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20200503110539/https://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/displayAnnouncement.do?display=text&issuerId=3968&announcementId=407755&documentDate=2001-07-03&documentNumber=198242 US Military Breakthrough
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20200501111642/https://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/displayAnnouncement.do?display=text&issuerId=3968&announcementId=457171&documentDate=2002-01-31&documentNumber=210167 Austal Secures Landmark Ferry Contract with United States Military
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20160330060236/https://www.austal.com/ships/westpac-express WestPac Express
  4. Web site: Navy.mil - View Image. www.navy.mil.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20120211221047/http://www.defpro.com/news/details/30947/?SID=70dabe1b4a47e34dcfef8924d4bebe5c US Military Signs New Charter for Austal High Speed Vessel
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20200503113831/https://au.news.yahoo.com/us-navy-extends-austal-charter-25191790.html US Navy extends Austal charter
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20180201020118/https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/maritime-antisub/1756-2004-boxing-day-tsunami-support-vessel-completes-16-year-charter WestPac Express completes 16 year charter
  8. Web site: ICG takes delivery of WestPac Express. irishtimestimes.com. 1 January 2018.
  9. https://afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/item/31916-irish-ferries-owner-acquire-fast-ferry-for-13-25m Irish Ferries Owner Acquire Fast-Ferry for $13.25m
  10. Web site: Irish Continental Group plc : Sale of Jonathan Swift. otp.investis.com. 31 January 2018.
  11. News: H&W visitors: WestPac Express (Austal #130) - NI Ferry Site ~ www.niferry.co.uk ~. 13 January 2018. NI Ferry Site ~ www.niferry.co.uk ~. 2 February 2018. en-GB.
  12. Web site: Dublin Swift (ex Westpac Express) update. 29 March 2018. NI Ferry Site. en-GB. 21 August 2019.
  13. News in brief Ships Monthly April 2018 page 10
  14. https://web.archive.org/web/20180516004819/https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/first-look-dublin-swift-the-new-fast-ferry-to-holyhead-1.3494521?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Flife-and-style%2Ftravel%2Ffirst-look-dublin-swift-the-new-fast-ferry-to-holyhead-1.3494521 First look: Dublin Swift, the new fast ferry to Holyhead
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20200503110640/https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20081114/pdf/31dlbkpmzlzrmd.pdf Austral Awarded Joint High Speed Vessel Contract
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20200503111046/https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20181116/pdf/440c9gm8hny504.pdf Austal Delivers Expeditionary Fast Transport the USNS Burlington (EPF 10) to the US Navy