Two new foil catamaran ferries were launched into Bermudian waters on Wednesday, doubling the size of Marine and Ports' fast ferry fleet.

The Tempest and Venturilla ferries completed an 8,000 mile ocean crossing from Tasmania to Bermuda aboard the CEC Light container ship.

Many Marine and Ports' boats and private vessels watched the painstaking preparation process as the ferries were lifted one at a time by two cranes.

The ferries were taken to the Hamilton Marine and Ports Depot where they will stay until the official hand over of keys and insurance, due to take place next week. Transport Minister Ewart Brown will host a Christening ceremony on Friday.

The ferries are 23 meters long and can hold 200 passengers.

They will take over the Somerset-Hamilton route from the older mono hull ferries.

The Tempest is white with a green design on it and the Venturilla is white with a blue and orange design on it.

Marine and Ports' pilots will receive training after the Christening and the ferries should be operating by the third week of August.