Blount Boats, Inc. has been awarded a contract by the Maine Department of Transportation to build a 110-ft passenger ferry for the Casco Bay Island Transit District. The design specifications are similar to the Aucocisco III, which were developed by Seaworthy Systems. The proposed 399 passenger, Sub-Chapter K vessel will operate year round ferry service to islands in Casco Bay, Portland, Maine.
The vessel will be equipped with electronically controlled diesel engines that meet the latest EPA standards. Hull #335 will mark the ninth vessel built for the Casco Bay Island Transit District. Over the last 57 years, the Blount shipyard has built a total of eight vessels for Casco Bay: Aucocisco II (1953), Emita II (1953), Abenaki (1963), Island Holiday (1967), Island Adventure (1968), Island Romance (1973), Bay Mist (1982) and Machigonne (1987).