EBDG-Designed Heron Lands at Fisher Island

The fourth vessel to join the Fisher Island fleet, Heron, has been delivered. Built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Fla., and designed by Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), Seattle, the 120-ft. double-ended vehicle ferry was accepted by Fisher Island Community Association on October 9, 2002. EBDG completed the upgraded Contract Design and later served as Owner's Representative during vessel construction. The new vessel measures 120 x 46 x 7 ft., and carries 22 vehicles and up to 100 passengers.

According to EBDG Project Manager Will Nickum, P.E., Heron was "designed for maintenance." Special consideration was placed on improvements geared towards maintenance and compatibility with the existing fleet. According to Nickum, "the design ground rules were fairly straightforward: match the existing design in hull form, arrangement, appearance and handling, use proven local suppliers for equipment, and improve maintenance of hull and equipment in every way possible."

Heron Main Particulars Length, o.a., molded 120 ft. Length, design load waterline 116 ft. Breadth, molded over guard 46 ft. Breadth, design load waterline 36.7 ft. Depth, molded amidships 12 ft. Design draft 7 ft. Horsepower (@ 1,800 rpm) 450 bhp, each end Fuel oil capacity (@ 95%) 5,348 gallons Automobile capacity 22 Passenger capacity 100 Regulatory gross tonnage Less than 100