All American Completes 83-ft Alaska Ferry

All American Marine, Inc. delivered another 83-ft hydrofoil-assisted aluminum catamaran for operation in Alaska.  The recently launched Kachemak Voyager will operate in Kachemak Bay and provide passenger ferry service between the communities of Seldovia and Homer.  Through a competitive bidding process, the Seldovia Village Tribe awarded a contract to All American Marine in September 2008 to build a sistership to the CIRI owned, M/V Aialik Voyager and M/V Orca Voyager, AAM previously built for servicing the Kenai Peninsula.  Seldovia was looking for a proven design, but was able to work closely with AAM to make it their own.
 
The 82.7-ft by 29.2-ft Kachemak Voyager ferry is rated to carry 150 passengers and certified under USCG Subchapter T regulations.  Unlike her sisterships that serve as eco-tour vessels, the Kachemak Voyager was built to haul passengers and cargo.  The village of Seldovia can only be accessed by air or sea; therefore, cargo capacity for transporting goods and supplies was indispensible to the design.  On the main deck, a large aft luggage and stowage room was constructed with an assortment of fold-down shelving to accommodate many articles of varying sizes.  The craft also features a Morgan Marine 40-3L knuckle boom crane installed on the upper aft deck.  The crane will be used to load and unload cargo totes that will transport the villagers’ provisions safely and dry.  Should passengers elect to transport ice cream or fish, a chest freezer is readily available to keep them frozen.

While the aft deck crane may portray to some the illusion of a work boat, the onboard amenities make it clear that the 15 nautical mile voyage will operate in class and comfort.  Passengers are indulged in the spacious comfort of the two deck cabin.  Each row of cabin seating faces a dining table and the design of the flip-up style Eknes seats makes it very easy for passengers to access seats inside a row.  In addition to dedicated wheel chair space, the seats can be quickly removed to accommodate wheelchairs at the tables.  The vessel is highly accessible and offers wide aisle ways, low clearance door sills, and an exterior ramp that gradually sweeps up to the fore deck.  The cruise experience is complemented by plenty of LCD video monitors, a high grade Bose sound system, and large viewing windows located throughout the cabins.  A fully equipped galley is onboard, complete with multiple refrigerators, freezers, sinks, and ovens.  The exterior decks are accessible from either cabin, with an observation area and outdoor seating available on the upper deck and a wrap around exterior walkway with rain shelter on the main deck.

The semi-displacement catamaran hull was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand.  The design integrates the signature Teknicraft symmetrical and asymmetrical combined hull shape, bow wave piercer, and copyrighted hydrofoil system.  The vessel’s design offers all passengers a smooth ride and extreme comfort as the hull provides a cushioned effect when encountering waves.  The catamaran is highly stable and has outstanding seakeeping ability.  The Kachemak Voyager is powered by twin C32 Caterpillar ACERT engines, each delivering 1450 bhp at 2300 rpm.  The propulsion package includes ZF 3000A transmissions and Osborne 5-blade propellers. Fully loaded, Kachemak Voyager reaches a top speed of 29 knots and cruises efficiently at 27 knots. 

All American Marine Inc., located on the shores of Bellingham Bay, was founded in 1987 and specializes in the construction of custom tailored aluminum boats.  Today, the company has become a leading builder of high speed passenger catamarans, excursion boats, and research vessels.  All American Marine is the exclusive builder for Teknicraft Design Ltd. catamarans in North America.