Gladding-Hearn Starts Construction on Ferry

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has begun construction of a 350 passenger, high-speed ferry for the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority in Massachusetts. The all-aluminum catamaran, designed by Incat-Crowther in Sidney, Australia, is 155 ft. long and 40-ft. abeam. It draws only 5.3-ft. The vessel features Incat Designs’ S-Bow hull shape to provide additional reserve buoyancy during very large seas.

“The S-Bow hull shape has lower resistance and better seakeeping than a conventional catamaran hull,” Peter Duclos, Gladding-Hearn’s president, explained. “This hull has excellent directional stability and is more tolerant of changes in trim and displacement.” The Steamship Authority’s second fast ferry will be powered by four MTU 12V-4000M70 diesel engines, each delivering 2331Bhp at 2000 rpm and propelled by a Hamilton HM721 waterjet through a ZF4650D reverse-reduction gearbox. Equipped with a VT/MDI active interceptor motion control system, the vessel’s top speed, in moderate sea conditions, is expected to reach 38 knots from the four engines (33 knots from three engines) when fully loaded with a deadweight of 51 metric tones at 100% MCR. Electrical power is supplied by two Northern Lights 175 kW generators. With interior sound levels of 72 dba, the main and upper cabins will be feature Beurteaux Ocean Contour seats. Additional accommodations include five heads, heating and air-conditioning, a digital audio/visual public address system with nine displays throughout the vessel, and a snack bar in the main cabin. A separate luggage room will carry more than 14,000 pounds of luggage and 24 bicycles.