The much-watched progress of two new cruise vessels under construction for AmericanClassic Voyages at Ingalls Shipbuilding are quickly taking shape, at least in the area of equipment selection. The ships are destined for Hawaii inter-island service, and will be the largest U.S. flag cruise ships ever built, and the first large passenger vessels built in the U.S. in more than 40 years. The project has generated an understandable amount of interest in the world shipbuilding community, and competition to secure an order on the ship has been fierce. Last month it was divulged that the Mermaid podded propulsion system was selected to propel the first two vessels, with an option for a third. Each ship will be equipped with two Mermaid propulsors, each with a rated power of 12.5 MW.