HSC Dublin Swift
{{Short description|High-speed catamaran built in 2001}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = MV Dublin Swift.jpg | Ship caption = Dublin Swift in August 2018 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Cyprus | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Cyprus}} | Ship name = *2001-2018 WestPac Express (HSV-4676)
| Ship owner = *2001-2016 Austal
| Ship operator = *2001-2018 United States Navy
| Ship builder = Austal, Henderson, Western Australia | Ship registry = Limassol | Ship route = Dublin-Holyhead | Ship ordered = | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 130 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 26 March 2001 | Ship completed = 2001 | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|9243227}}
| Ship fate = | Ship status = In service | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Roll-on/roll-off catamaran | Ship tonnage = 2,111 tons (light) | Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|100.99|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|26.64|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = {{convert|4.29|m|ft|abbr=on}} (fully loaded) | Ship depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship sail plan = | Ship power = Four Caterpillar 3618 diesel engines each producing 7,200 kW @ 1,050 rpm | Ship propulsion = Water-jet propulsion | Ship speed = *{{convert|20|kn|lk=in}} (economical)
| Ship range = *1,240 nmi @ 33 kn (laden)
| Ship capacity =
| Ship crew = *11 military
| Ship notes = }} |
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.[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] Austral 3 July 2001[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] Austral 31 January 2002[https://web.archive.org/web/20160330060236/https://www.austal.com/ships/westpac-express WestPac Express] Austal
In March 2011, the WestPac Express was deployed as part of the US response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=98402|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124231/https://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=98402|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 February 2019|title=Navy.mil - View Image|website=www.navy.mil}} 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.[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] Defpro The lease was renewed successively until the end of 2017.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200503113831/https://au.news.yahoo.com/us-navy-extends-austal-charter-25191790.html US Navy extends Austal charter] The West Australian 6 October 2014[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] Defence Connect 11 January 2018
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/icg-takes-delivery-of-high-speed-craft-westpac-express-1.2669940|title=ICG takes delivery of WestPac Express|publisher=irishtimestimes.com|access-date=1 January 2018}}[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] Afloat 15 April 2016
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.{{Cite web|url=http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/icg1/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=500&newsid=971844|title=Irish Continental Group plc : Sale of Jonathan Swift|website=otp.investis.com|access-date=31 January 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.niferry.co.uk/hw-visitors-westpac-express-austal-130/|title=H&W visitors: WestPac Express (Austal #130) - NI Ferry Site ~ www.niferry.co.uk ~|date=13 January 2018|work=NI Ferry Site ~ www.niferry.co.uk ~|access-date=2 February 2018|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.niferry.co.uk/dublin-swift-ex-westpac-express-update/|title=Dublin Swift (ex Westpac Express) update|date=29 March 2018|website=NI Ferry Site|language=en-GB|access-date=21 August 2019}} It entered service in April 2018.News in brief Ships Monthly April 2018 page 10[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] Irish Times 14 May 2018
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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200503110640/https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20081114/pdf/31dlbkpmzlzrmd.pdf Austral Awarded Joint High Speed Vessel Contract] Austal 14 November 2008[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] Austal 16 November 2018
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|IMO 9243227}}
{{FerriesIrishSea}}
{{US Navy High Speed Vessels}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dublin Swift}}
Category:Ferries of the Republic of Ireland
Category:Catamarans of the United States Navy
Category:High speed vessels of the United States Navy
Category:Individual catamarans