Kawasaki Heavy Industries secures contract for new Jetfoil

High-speedKawasaki Heavy Industries has been awarded a contract to construct one new "Kawasaki Jetfoil," a high-speed, fully submerged hydrofoil passenger vessel. The agreement was signed jointly with Kyushu Yusen and the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency.

The new vessel is slated for construction at KHI's Kobe Works and is scheduled for delivery in June 2029. Following delivery, the jetfoil will be deployed for passenger transport services along the Hakata-Iki/Tsushima maritime route.

This order marks a significant milestone for KHI, representing their first new jetfoil order in eight years. KHI initially acquired the manufacturing and sales rights for jetfoils from the U.S. company Boeing in 1987. Since then, the company has built a total of 16 such vessels between 1989 and 2020.

Vessel Specifications and Features

The newly ordered Kawasaki Jetfoil will maintain the established performance of the current proven design while incorporating several modern upgrades. Key enhancements include the integration of a new gas turbine engine and a revised passenger seating layout designed to improve overall safety.

The jetfoil is renowned as an ultra-high-speed passenger vessel that offers a comfortable, seasickness-free ride by using hydrofoils to lift the hull entirely out of the water. The vessel operates by utilizing two gas turbine engines to power water jet propulsors, which spray 3 tonnes of seawater per second to generate thrust.

This technology enables the vessel to achieve speeds exceeding 43 knots. It is engineered for stability, capable of traveling smoothly even in rough seas with waves up to 3.5 metres high, and manoeuvres through turns by tilting the hull inward like an aircraft.

Specifications:

Full length: 27.4m (with hydrofoils lowered)
Mold width: 8.5m
Engine: 2 x Vericor TF50B
Sailing speed: 43 knots
Passenger capacity: 252 people