Norwegians chase WA ferry

THE first WA-built fast ferries ever imported into Norway have been delivered to ferry operator Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap.

The two Austal Ships-built 42 metre aluminium catamarans are the first fast ferries to be imported into Norway in more than a quarter of a century.

Both vessels will ply HSD’s Flaggruten service, carrying up to 358 passengers between the cities of Bergen and Stavanger.

The route covers 120 nautical miles in a scheduled time of less than four hours, crossing fjords, over open seas, past islands and through narrow straits.