Government has ordered two new $2.5 million catamaran fast ferries set to arrive next April.

Although shorter than the current fast ferries, they will carry the more than 200 passengers in a new design to reduce wake problems at speeds up to a third faster.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said the order had been placed because of the success of the first two fast ferries and which had increased passenger load by 162 percent on the Rockaway to Hamilton route since starting their first run last spring.

Asked if the announcement would be seen as an election gift, Dr. Brown said: "I would imagine it would be seen by some people as an election gift, let's just call this a gift in the election time."

He stressed the money for the boats had already been set aside.

North West Bay Ships of Tasmania, Australia are to build the ships after yards in the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia and Bermuda had been short-listed to tender.

He said Boston shipbuilders Gladding-Hearn, who built the last fast ferries, had been unable to bid because a busy schedule meant they would not meet Government's deadline.

The ferries are earmarked to replace ageing Somerset ferries , and although Marine and Ports Director Barry Copeland stressed they could handle any route. Boaz Island and Cavello Bay are most likely to get the new boats.

The ferries are 12 feet shorter and three feet narrower than and which carry 250 people but feature the same engines to standardise servicing and spare part replacement.

Nothing would be lost in comfort said Dr. Brown of the new designs.

He said: "Although smaller the seating in the main cabin is identical to and at 104 with a further 73 on the upper deck with the quality, style and spacious comfort, at least equal to y and ."

Exact passenger loads have yet to be determined as transport officials work out how many standing passengers will be permitted.

The boats will sit just three feet in the water but at top speed will rise to just 18 inches as they ride on a foil underneath the boat.

Dr. Brown said the cutting-edge design resulted in the lowest wake/wave form energy of any vessel carrying more than 150 people in the world.

Mr. Copeland said wakes caused problems for people in small boats and had led to complaints about the recent fast ferries but the new designs would leave less wake the faster they went.

He said there was no danger the boats would topple over but said the design made for a smoother ride in rough weather.

Less drag means quicker speeds. Transport consultant Larry Jacobs said the old ferries did 12 knots, the first batch of fast ferries can do 23 knots while the new boats will be able to do 34 knots.

He said: "We don't intend to run them at 34 knots to the West End."

He said the new additions would give Marine and Ports the flexibility to substitute for or which run Dockyard to Hamilton, Rockaway to Hamilton with occasional St. George's runs.

The east end is high in the ministry's plans. The new ferries could fill in, with no dock adjustments necessary, if there was a a demand for a commuter service from St. George's, Flatt's, the airport or Jew's Bay in Southampton.

Over those distances the speed advantages mean the ferries could get to Hamilton quicker than cars.

He said Government was winning its battle to make water routes a viable alternative to road commutes with parking spaces at Rockaway now full and bike spaces overflowing.

Because of high demand Works and Engineering is now adding 20 car parking spaces and more cycle spaces.

Mini-bus use is strong with the service holding steady at approximately 25 percent of Rockaway ferry passengers using the mini-bus to access the ferry.

"Based on that we can legitimately call it a success and that's not electioneering," said Dr. Brown.

Service started April 2, 2002

Passenger trips - Week 1 929

Passenger trips per day - Week 1 232

Passenger trips - June 9-13, 2003 3043

Passenger trips per day - June 9-13 609

Daily percent increase in ridership since opening day 162 percent