Outstanding Passenger Vessels

Dinner Cruise Vessel Boasts Mega-Yacht Style Measuring 175 ft. in length, dinner cruise vessel Starship was recently delivered to Starship Cruise Lines of Biloxi, Miss. Boasting a mega-yacht style, the vessel was designed by Naval Architects Dejong & Lebet of Jacksonville, Fla., and constructed by Freeport, Fla.-based Freeport Shipbuilding. Plachter-Vogel Design provided interior architecture. USCG-Certified under Subchapter K for 600 passengers, plus 30 crew, Starship carries a Stability Letter for Partially Protected waters. The vessel is designed to have a 5-5.6 ft. full load draft enabling it to access some of the Biloxi area's more shallow waterways. The hull features tunnels to allow large enough propellers while minimizing the draft. Starship is powered by a pair of Detroit Diesel Series 60 main engines, developing 400 hp at 1,800 rpm, coupled to twin disc MG-516 gear gearboxes. The 250 hp Schottel bowthruster is powered by a Detroit Diesel Series 50 engine with a Twin Disc gear. Stewart & Stevenson supplied all engines. The boat features Fernstrum grid coolers. Vessel Specifications Length, (o.a): 175 ft. Beam, (molded): 40 ft. Depth: 12 ft. Draft: 6 ft. Fuel oil: 4,500 gallons Black/gray water: 9,600 gallons Main engines: Detroit Diesel Grid coolers: Fernstrum Bowthruster: Schottel High Speed Ferry Debuts on Puget Sound New passenger-only ferry Snohomish made its debut on Puget Sound, entering service between Seattle and Bremerton, temporarily replacing Chinook. Snohomish is the sister ship to Chinook, which has been in service on the route since summer 1998. Both passenger-only ferries, which can carry 350 riders, were built by Dakota Creek shipyard in Anacortes. While the vessels are nearly identical to the casual observer, there are, some important differences, explained Cliff Hill, project manager for the passenger-only fast-ferry (POFF) program. On Snohomish, eaves extending over the doors at the stern of the boat were shortened to make the new ferry lighter. That modification saved one ton, and overall, Snohomish is four tons lighter than its predecessor, said Hill. This type of ferry - a catamaran design with an aluminum hull - performs better if it's lighter, explained Hill. "Any weight savings translates into better performance and lower wake wash on these types of vessels," he said. Another modification was in the ferry's control system. Engineers found ways to reduce the noise level in the rear areas of the lower passenger cabin. Modifying windows, increasing insulation and installing a baffle wall behind the seats, accomplished this. The completion of Snohomish marked the end of a two-boat building process that began at Dakota Creek in March 1997. Fiberglass Excursion Boat Delivered by Westport Westport Shipyard delivered 95 x 22.7 ft. fiberglass excursion boat, Tanaina, to Prince William Sound Cruises & Tours (PWSCT). The boat will be based in Whittier, Alaska, to join other firms providing excursion services on Prince William Sound. Tanaina, an Alaskan word meaning, "the people," was constructed using Westport's 8500 series adjustable hull form, featuring modified propeller tunnels. The new 28-knot vessel is powered by Caterpillar 3512B engines delivering 1,960 hp at 1,835 rpm. Engines deliver power through ZF BW460 2.529:1 marine gears. The Bird-Johnson Nibral propellers have an 18-degree skew and .89 DAR. Twin Disc power Commander engine controls are installed. The ship's service power is provided by a Northern Lights M437 40-kW single phase generator and an M844L, 20-kW generator with wet exhaust. Ancillary equipment includes a 12-in., 25 hp dual prop Wesmar bowthruster. Gladding-Hearn's Yankee Freedom II Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, the Duclos Corp. constructed its first high speed excursion vessel for Yankee Roamer, Inc., Key West, Fla. The 92-ft. boat has a top speed of more than 27 knots. Phil Hercus of International Catamaran Designs, Sydney, Australia, designed Yankee Freedom II. The Incat design uses a single chine Z-Bow hull shape that increases waterline length for improved high-speed performance and seakeeping ability. Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Somerset, Mass. built the all-aluminum vessel and designed the interior and mechanical systems. Gladding-Hearn is Incat's U.S. East Coast licensee and is schedule to launch two more Incat designed ferries this year. Two Cat 3412C marine engines, each rated 1,050 bhp at 2,300 rpm power the vessel. The 3412s drive 40 in. diameter Bruntons propellers through ZF BW 190 marine gears. Compared to a 90 ft., 2,600-bhp Lydia composite monohull previously making the Dry Tortugas run, Yankee Freedom II operates with a 20 percent increase in speed while using approximately one-third less fuel. Vessel Specifications Length: 92 ft. Beam: 29 ft. Draft: 6 ft. Fuel cap.: 2,000 gallons Fresh water cap.: 200 gallons Sewage holding: 300 gallons Main engines: Caterpillar Engine supplier: Southworth-Milton Gear: ZF Industries Propellers: Bruntons Nibral Engine controls: Mathers Clear Command Gensets: Alaska Diesel @ 40 kW Generator control panel: Industrial Power Systems Steering system: Wagner Hydraulics: Hydraulic Pot Hauler Radar: Furuno Compass: Ritchie Large Catamaran for Catalina Cruises Nichols Brothers, based in Whidbey Island, Wash. has completed the construction of a 144 ft., 450-capacity passenger catamaran for Catalina Cruises, named Catalina Jet. The vessel, the largest passenger catamaran to be constructed by Nichols, will run between Long Beach and Catalina Island at a speed of 36 knots. Employing four Caterpillar electronically controlled 1,950-hp diesel engines, to power Ulstein Bird Johnson waterjets, Catalina Jet is constructed with an active ride control system for comfortable sailing along the Catalina Channel. The system, supplied by Maritime Dynamics is comprised of trim tabs and T-foils beneath the twin hulls to counteract the pitch and roll motions as caused by rough seas. The catamaran is also equipped with three decks with indoor seating for 400 passengers and top side open air accommodations for an additional 50 people, as well as airline type and dinette seating. Vessel Specifications Length: 144 ft. Beam: 39 ft. Draft, full load: 6 ft. Fuel oil: 2 x 2,230 gallons Fresh water: 750 gallons Sewage: 750 gallons Main engines: Four Caterpillar rated at 1,950-hp @ 1,835 rpm Jet drive system: Ulstein Bird Johnson Active ride control system: Maritime Dynamics Generators: N.C. Machinery Electronics: Harris Electric HVAC: Celsius Marine Passengers: 450 Canal Boats Delivers Water Taxi Canal Boats, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., delivered its largest water taxi built to date, to Water Taxi, in New York. Newport, a 72-passenger vessel, is built on a rugged modified V-hull, with a full skeg. Powered by twin Caterpillar diesels, the vessel is USCG certified. Spacious bench-style seating on both sides of the wide center aisle provides passengers with comfort and safety. The vessel measures 42 ft. LOA, with a 14.5 ft. beam. The twin Caterpillar 3116 diesels, with 325 hp each, produce a loaded service speed of 24 knots. Vessel Specifications Length, o.a.: 42 ft. Beam: 14 ft. Draft: 4 ft. Engines: 3116 Cat - 325 hp @ 2,800 rpm Drives: Twin Disc, 2.5:1 Fuel: 500 gal. Holding tank: 55 gal., polyethylene Steering: Sea Star/Capilano Controls: Kobelt Fire pump: Oberdorfer VHF radio: Standard Accommodations: 74 persons Corporate Coastal Yacht Pluckebaum Custom Boats recently launched a custom 80 ft. corporate coastal yacht, designed for dining and entertaining large groups of corporate customers. The vessel is designed to take customers on a three or four hour afternoon or evening cruise, and serve them a complete, sit-down gourmet meal. The yacht was built to replace an older 65 ft. vessel. The interior joiner work features custom milled tongue-and-groove African mahogany walls, ceilings and cabinetry. Outside the vessel is a unique double rail and stanchion liferail system made from solid brass to the owner's specification. The bridge includes a complete hard enclosure with remote wing controls in a fully air conditioned and heated environment. Mechanical specifications include propulsion power from twin 3208 TA Caterpillar at 435 hp each; two Westerbeke gensets at 32 kW and 25 kW; a Vetus bowthruster, plus a full array of electronics, including Furuno radar, Garmin GPS Map 220, Simrad Autopilot and a 3. 5 million candlepower Carlisle Finch Searchlight. Largest Hull from Washburn & Doughty Washburn & Doughty Associates launched a 186 ft. offshore casino vessel for Cajun Express, Inc., of Boston, Mass. Hull 65, yet to be named, is the largest vessel built by Washburn & Doughty, edging out 185-ft., Great Point, an 800-passenger vessel running from Hyannis, Mass. The new vessel is a lengthened and widened version of 162-ft. Big M Casino, which was delivered to Cajun Express in July, 1996, and now operates out of Fort Myers, Fla. Specifically designed to handle offshore conditions with heavy gaming equipment on board, Hull 65 measures 186 x 38 ft., with a 7.5 ft. draft. It will carry a minimum of 500 passengers and 72 crew. The vessel's anticipated running speed is 15 knots, making for a quick trip to gaming waters. It will be powered by two Caterpillar 3508B DIT main engines rated at 1,100 bhp each at 1,800 rpm. Manueverability will be enhanced by an American Bow Thruster TRAC SERIES dual propeller, 28 in. diameter unit, powered by a 200 hp variable frequency electric motor. Chicago's Little Lady Debuts Mercury Skyline Sightseeing Boats has christened and placed into service its newest vessel, Chicago's Little Lady. Built by Freeport Shipbuilding of Freeport, Fla., the 149-passenger craft is classically styled, inspired by the perpendicular stem, graceful sheer and round stern of vessels such as former presidential yacht Sequioa. With a 17-ft. draft, the vessel can slip under the downtown bridges on the Chicago River, while the 120 passengers on the open upper deck have an unobstructed view of the city's architecture. Little Lady will be used extensively for narrated architectural cruises, beginning at Mercury Skyline's landing at Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue on the Chicago River. The vessel's hull measures 68 x 23 x 8.5 ft., and is constructed of steel to ABS specifications. The two Cummins 6CTA8.3-M1 engines are fitted with Twin Disc MG-507 gearboxes. The engines are resilient mounted and the engine room is acoustically insulated for a quiet, smooth ride. Two Cummins 40-kW diesel generators provide electric power for the air conditioning, lighting and all hotel facilities. Dinner Cruise Vessel for Fort Lauderdale Sir Winston, a 120 x 33 ft. dinner cruise vessel was delivered by her owner, Winston Knauss, to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Designed by DeJong & Lebet, Inc., the vessel is USCG-certificated under Subchapter K (less than 1,000 gt) for 400 passengers on a partially protected route. The vessel features four passenger decks, a large galley and an elevator. The hull level contains crew staterooms and the engine room. Powering Sir Winston is a pair of Cummins 6CTA diesels rated for 350 hp @ 2,500 rpm, with ZF marine gears. Electrical power is provided by two Cummins 6BTA generator sets rated at 99 kW each. A Cummins 4B engine powers the 100 hp bowthruster.