Derecktor lauches second fast ferry for government of Bermuda

J.L. Cecil Smith, designed by Nigel Smith, is the sixth high speed ferry operating a year round service out of Hamilton.

(BRIDGEPORT, CT — November 9, 2007) Derecktor Shipyards has produced a second 124-foot catamaran passenger ferry, J.L. Cecil Smith, for the Government of Bermuda. The first 350-passenger, low-wake ferry, Warbaby Fox, was built and delivered in September 2006.

Identical to Warbaby Fox, J.L Cecil Smith has an all aluminum hull with a resiliently mounted super structure. The ferry is powered by four MTU 12V2000M70 diesel engines with ZF gear boxes and four Hamilton 512 waterjets.  The ferry is a bow loader for fast turn-around time and offers optional side loading.

The vessel has seating for 212 in a spacious climate-controlled compartment, plus additional seating for 137 on the weather deck in a combination of covered and open seats.

The J.L. Cecil Smith provides a very important daily commuter service between Rockaway, located at the west end of the island, and the centrally-located capital city of Hamilton. The route was introduced in 2002 to reduce road congestion. During non-commuter hours, the ferry provides seaborne connectivity to the island’s residential and visitor activity centers.

Marine and Ports Director, Francis C. Richardson commented, “The Department of Marine and Ports Services is very pleased with the construction quality of J.L.Cecil Smith and also the yard’s adherence to build and delivery schedule, which was deemed critical to our local operation.”

Members of The Department of Marine and Ports Services and Derecktor officials christened the vessel.

Derecktor’s President, Paul Derecktor commented, “We are delighted that Warbaby Fox was such a success that the Government of Bermuda requested a sister vessel as part of their growing and busy transportation system.”

The vessels are owned by Bermuda’s Department of Marine & Ports Services of the Ministry of Tourism and Transportation, and operated under the name and logo of “Sea Express.”

By Professional Mariner Staff