Virtu Ferries’ Incat built 110m high speed ferry, Saint John Paul II, has won the High Speed Ferry award in Cruise and Ferry Review’s first ever Ship of the Year awards.

Cruise and Ferry is a trusted and reliable source for news on the passenger shipping industry. The Ship of the Year award was created to recognise passenger ships that showcase innovative new green technologies, impressive interior and exterior designs and unique onboard amenities and guest experiences.

Saint John Paul II received the award from a short list of nominations, including High-speed Express 4 from Molslinjen, Rikulau from Brave Lines, Venus Clipper from Thames Clippers and fellow Incat catamaran Volcán de Tagoro from Naviera Armas.

Saint John Paul II is the largest vessel of its kind operating in the Mediterranean and the second largest in the world. Onboard facilities include five lounges, gift shops, gaming lounge bars and shops. She offers a total of 1,134 VIP, business and economy seats on two decks, including 996 inside and 138 outside, as well as a designated truckers’ lounge with additional facilities. The vehicle deck is designed to carry 23 heavy commercial trucks or 167 cars.

Incat Tasmania’s CEO Tim Burnell said “It is a huge honour for Incat to be associated with this award and a fantastic endorsement of our dedicated workforce at Incat. We warmly congratulate Virtu Ferries, they were a committed partner in this project and without their commitment to detail and perfection Saint John Paul II would not be the ship she is. We wish her every success in the future.”