Name MV Sorrento Builder Seward Marine | Port of registry Australia | |
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Operator Peninsula Searoad Transport Pty Ltd Laid down Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Identification IMO Number 9261853
MMSI Number 503320500
Callsign VKV6549 Class and type Double-ended, roll-on/roll-off catamaran | ||
The MV Sorrento is a double ended roll-on/roll-off vehicle ferry owned by Peninsula Searoad Transport of Victoria, Australia. It has operated between the heads of Port Phillip Bay between the towns of Queenscliff and Sorrento since 2000. It is the sister ship of MV Queenscliff, and on entering service enabled a doubling in the service frequency across the bay. The ferry can carry approximately 80 vehicles and 700 passengers.
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The MV Sorrento is fitted with ramps at the bow and stern of the ship to allow vehicles to roll on at the start of the voyage and roll off at the end of the voyage. This results in a fast turnaround time, with all vehicles and passengers embarking and disembarking in approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The ferry was designed to use the existing loading facilities used by the sister ship MV Queenscliff.
At Queenscliff, the ship docks bow into the terminal. The bow of the ship consists of two sections; one section raises whilst the other lowers forming a ramp that allows vehicles to drive off. Once all vehicles and foot passengers have disembarked the ship, vehicles travelling to Sorrento then board and face the stern of the ship for the voyage. At Sorrento, the ship docks stern into the terminal. A ramp at the stern of the ship lowers allowing vehicles to drive off. Once all vehicles and foot passengers have disembarked, vehicles travelling to Queenscliff then board and face the bow of the ship for the voyage.
Foot passengers embark and disembark the ship, via the same ramps that vehicles do, under the direction of the ship's crew in between the embarkation and disembarkation of vehicles.