Washington ship builder Penn Cove Shellfish (DBA Everest Marine) has chosen Arkansas-based NAMJet to provide propulsion solutions for its newest oyster harvest vessel, Kumo Express.
Designed to harvest oysters grown on intertidal longlines in Humboldt Bay, California, the Traktor Jet-powered Kumo Express provides exceptional maneuverability and power in the shallow, windy working conditions common across the Pacific Northwest. Powered by twin 300-horsepower (hp) John Deere engines, Kumo Express' twin Traktor Jet TJ-457HT waterjets push the 50-foot, 22-ton (44,000 pounds)vessel to an impressive 17-knot top speed, while a Wesmar bowthruster helps the vessel to stay on track during harvest.
"What's really cool about this boat is its maneuverability," said Greg Dale of Coast Seafoods Company, the vessel's owner. "You cannot compare a prop boat to this one at all. It is a true leap forward in the technology of working on the water, and it's mind-boggling how well the Traktor Jets work."