Hawaii Superferry Delivered with GL Class

Alakai, the high speed ferry classed by Germanischer Lloyd, has been delivered from its builder Austal USA to Hawaii Superferry. A second US flagged vehicle-and-passenger carrying catamaran is currently under construction.

Powered by four MTU 20V 8200 M70 main engines via four ZF 53800 gearboxes, with a top speed of 35 knots, the high speed craft is capable of carrying 866 passengers and 282 cars. The ship incorporates environment-friendly technology, such as hulls with a non-toxic coating and on-board storage of wastewater, refuse and other solid waste. The vessel's design enjoys an excellent track record of safety and reliability. The environment-friendly, energy-efficient, specially designed catamaran meets or exceeds government standards for protecting Hawaii's islands and the ocean. The ship is the largest aluminium catamaran ever built in the U.S.

A second ferry is currently under construction at Austal USA shipyard. Its delivery is scheduled for 2009 with service between the islands of Hawaii, O'ahu and Maui.