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Second Alaskan Fast Cat Under Build
01 Jun 2003
When George Capacci, General Manager of the State of Alaska's Department of Transportation & Public Facilities , pushed a button recently at Derecktor Shipyards facility in Bridgeport, Connecticut USA, he set computer controlled machinery to work cutting the first piece of aluminium plate for the high speed ferry M/V Chenega .The ceremony marked the start of construction for the second of two 235ft high speed ferries for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
The M/V Chenega will sail in the Prince William Sound area of south-central Alaska, connecting the ports of Cordova, Valdez and Whittier. The first vessel, M/V Fairweather , is scheduled to enter service between Juneau and Sitka and the start of 2004 with the M/V Chenega expected to follow one year later. The 35 knot service speed of the vessels will significantly reduce the travel time between ports achieved by conventional ferries, boosting both tourism and commercial activity. The milestone vessels are the first of their kind ever built in America.
Derecktor Shipyards is using a design by Nigel Gee & Associates of Southampton UK, developed expressly for the Alaska project.
The new boats are designed to be safe and efficient ro-ro ferries that can minimise operating costs and interface with existing AMHS docks and pierside facilities.
Each vessel can carry 250 passengers and 35 cars (or a combination of other vehicles) safely and comfortably through sea conditions of up to 10ft waves.
The catamaran hulls of the vessels and their superstructures are of aluminium alloy. Propulsion is provided by four MTU 16V595 medium speed diesels, each driving a Kamewa 90SII waterjet.
The boats will be classed DNV + 1A1 HSLC R3 with full USCG compliance to SOLAS/HSC Code Category B.
MJ Information No: 18319
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