Catalina Channel News

The largest passenger catamaran to be completed by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders - at 144 ft. in length and with a 450-passenger capacity - was delivered to Catalina Cruises. The four-engine, 36 knot vessel is planned for service between Long Beach, Calif. and Catalina Island. Catalina Jet employs four Caterpillar 3512B, electronically controlled, 1,950-hp diesel engines to power MJP J550 DD waterjets supplied by Ulstein Bird Johnson. Power is transmitted through unique ZF gearboxes with diagonal offset, 1.42:1 ratio reduction gears. An active ride control system was supplied by Maritime Dynamics, to smooth out the passage on the Catalina Channel. The system includes trim tabs and "T-foils" beneath the twin hulls to counteract the pitch and roll motions induced by the sea surface.

The Board of Harbor Commissioners this week approved spending $3.12 million over the next year on 16 customer projects aimed at reducing air emissions. In total, over their lifetime these projects reduce NOx emissions by more than 1,000 tons, and particulate matter by nearly 30 tons. The projects were reviewed by the Port's Technical Advisory Committee and the Port Community Advisory Committee, and the final 16 were recommended to the Board for funding consideration. "We received more than 30 applications for project funding from our customers for consideration," said Geraldine Knatz, Port of Los Angeles executive director. "This shows the level of commitment we all have to reducing the air emissions created by Port-related operations.

Predicting business trends in the notoriously fickle marine business is difficult if not impossible. Yet when developments transpire as they have in the fast craft niche of the ferry business, it is difficult to not read the writing on the wall. The business of designing, building, outfitting and operating fast ferries in the United States is set to take off, as increasing pressures from traffic and environmental concerns force more people to the waterways. U.S. waterborne passenger transport already is large, according to Tim Kelley of Dalton & Kelley, who gave a presentation on the matter at the 17th Fast Ferry Conference, held March 13-15, 2001 in New Orleans. Currently there are 400 operators carrying more than 205 million passengers and 31 million vehicles annually. The largest U.S.

Nichols Brothers, based in Whidbey Island, Wash., recently delivered a 144 ft., 450-capacity passenger catamaran for Catalina Cruises, dubbed Catalina Jet. The vessel, which is the largest passenger catamaran to be constructed by Nichols, will run between Long Beach and Catalina Island at a speed of 36 knots.Employing four Caterpillar electronically controlled 1,950-hp diesel engines, to power Ulstein Bird Johnson waterjets, Catalina Jet is constructed with an active ride control system for comfortable sailing along the Catalina Channel. The system, supplied by Maritime Dynamics is comprised of trim tabs and T-foils beneath the twin…

Measuring 175 ft. in length, dinner cruise vessel Starship was recently delivered to Starship Cruise Lines of Biloxi, Miss. Boasting a mega-yacht style, the vessel was designed by Naval Architects Dejong & Lebet of Jacksonville, Fla., and constructed by Freeport, Fla.-based Freeport Shipbuilding. Plachter-Vogel Design provided interior architecture. USCG-Certified under Subchapter K for 600 passengers, plus 30 crew, Starship carries a Stability Letter for Partially Protected waters. The vessel is designed to have a 5-5.6 ft. full load draft enabling it to access some of the Biloxi area's more shallow waterways. The hull features tunnels to allow large enough propellers while minimizing the draft.