New & Notables

Derecktor Delivers Catamaran Ahead Of Time

Derecktor Shipyards delivered its 299 ft. (91 m) high speed catamaran, Flying Cloud, to Woods Hole & Martha's Vineyard Steamship Authority. Completed one week ahead of schedule, the vessel will be used for year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Attaining an excess of 39 knots during sea trials, Flying Cloud demonstrated high stability and ride comfort due to its dynamic ride control system. Its service speed of 36 knots will allow the ferry to cross from Hyannis Port to Nantucket Island in less than one hour - significantly lower than the conventional two hour crossing time.

Flying Cloud is powered by Paxman 12VP185 diesel engines driving Kamewa 71SII waterjets. Passenger accommodation on two decks hold 171 persons, with exterior seating provided on the upper deck for open-air travel. Atlantic Marine Goes Coastal

Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, Fla., launched the first of two 300 ft. (91.4 m) coastal cruise vessels under construction for Coastal Queen Holdings, a subsidiary of American Classic Voyages (AMCV). Named Cape May Light, the 226-passenger vessel is scheduled to be in the water by March 2001.

Each coastal vessel will be powered by two Caterpillar 3516B diesel engines driving two Schottel Z-drives with electrical power supplied by Caterpillar gen sets rated at 1,825 kW each. The vessels' design will be completed by Guido Perla & Associates, and Andrea Piacentini Design was contracted as interior designer, with an interior joiner package provided by Hopeman Brothers Marine Interiors. Crowley Delivers Second Of Three Part Tug Series

Crowley Marine Services has delivered Attentive, the second of three 140-ft. (42.6 m), 10,000-hp Prevention and Response Tugs (PRTs), to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Valdez, Alaska. Specifically designed and developed for Alyeska, Attentive and its pair of sisterships - Alert and Aware - will be used by Crowley in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System trade. Alert was deployed this past February; Aware is scheduled to be delivered this July.

The PRT trio will join Alyeska's Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS), serving as tanker escorts in Prince William Sound. The group's focus is to prevent oil spills by assisting tankers in safe navigation through the Sound, and to protect the environment by providing rapid and effective response services to the Valdez Marine terminal and Alaska crude shippers.

During its sea trials, Attentive generated a bollard pull of 305,000-lbs. and running speed of 17 knots. Equipped for firefighting, emergency response and oil spill recovery, all three PRTs are powered by twin Caterpillar 3612B engines generating the combined 10,192-hp driving two Kamewa Aquamaster azimuthing thrusters.

The tugs' design scope was developed by Seattle-based Guido Perla and Associates; construction occurred at Dakota Creek Shipyard in Anacortes, Wash. for Vessel Management Services - a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime that owns and leases vessels. Design features include accommodations for up to 16 personnel, Schuyler fendering, a Markey TDS-40 towing winch, 3,000 ft. of oil recovery boom and on-deck stowage for two oil spill recovery skiffs. Highspeed 2 Ready For Service

Austal Ships has completed the first of a trio of Auto Express high speed vehicle-passenger ferries for Greek operator, Minoan Flying Dolphins Maritime. The 236 ft. (72 m) catamaran named Highspeed 2 is scheduled to enter service for the summer season, preceding identical sisterships Highspeed 3 and the larger capacity Auto Express Highspeed 4.

Boasting various features such as the Seastate Tmax high speed steering system, which takes control from the vessel's waterjets at speeds in excess of 25 knots, the catamaran can hold 620 passengers.

The wheelhouse features 360-degree vision with berthing maneuvering from the wing stations. Electronics include Kelvin Hughes radars, navigational equipment and electronic chart navigation (Nucleus 5000 II and Nucleus2 Ecdis), C.Plath gyro and magnetic compasses, and Icom communications systems. Two Marine Evacuation System (MES) stations, which can be activated locally or from the bridge - and are located forward, to port and starboard - are supplied by Liferaft Systems Australia.