With a capacity to accommodate 150 passengers, the vessel will provide enhanced tour experiences for visitors to Prince William Sound (source: All American Marine)
All American Marine (AAM) has delivered Chugach Express to Phillips Cruises and Tours, marking a “significant milestone” in its partnership
This high-speed, long-range eco-tour vessel will operate daily in Prince William Sound and will be based out of Whittier, Alaska. Developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand, Chugach Express boasts an 26 m x 9 m semi-displacement aluminum catamaran hull, representing cutting-edge maritime engineering.
Constructed to US Coast Guard (USCG) Subchapter T classification standards, the vessel features a fuel capacity of 4,542 litres, facilitating fuel-efficient operations. Its design incorporates a dynamic aluminum hydrofoil, enhancing speed and stability at high speeds. Equipped with a propulsion package comprising of MJP 350X Waterjets, powered by quad Scania DI16 082M engines rated at 800 mhp, Chugach Express ensures optimal performance and reliability.
“We have completed another vessel that has exceeded our anticipated fully laden performance metrics on the water.” stated Teknicraft Design principal and owner Nic de Waal.
With a capacity to accommodate 150 passengers, the vessel will provide enhanced tour experiences for visitors to Prince William Sound. Featuring top-of-the-line amenities, Chugach Express prioritises customer comfort and satisfaction throughout their journey, says a statement by the shipyard.
“With the delivery of Chugach Express from All American Marine, we’re thrilled to embark on this new chapter for our business. Working with the inhouse /build operation of Teknicraft and All American was seamless. We’re already impressed by how well the vessel performs, and we can’t wait to enhance our guests’ experiences and ensure our company operates efficiently and sustainably.” said Phillips Cruises and Tours managing partner Casey Neumann.
The new sightseeing vessel integrates the signature Teknicraft Design symmetrical and asymmetrical combined hull shape, bow wave piercer, and a patented hydrofoil-assisted hull design. The hull and hull components are designed to break up wave action and ensure reduced drag while enhancing passenger comfort. Teknicraft’s innovative, dynamic hydrofoil-assisted hull design is proven to have industry-leading low-wake wash energy and fuel economy.
The shipyard said, “The main foil action reduces the power needed to maintain service speed; therefore, fuel consumption and running costs are reduced significantly while enhancing the ride’s softness, especially in choppy seas. Our unique hydrofoil system consists of the main foil spanning the tunnel at the keel, forward of the centre of gravity position and two cantilever-type stern foils. The lift produced by the hydrofoil reduces the hull resistance while increasing speed and load-bearing capability.”
All American Marine president and chief operating officer Ron Wille said, “The exceptional combination of Scania engines and MJP waterjets, coupled with the proven superiority of the Teknicraft hull demonstrated exceptional performance during our sea trials. We are thrilled to enhance the Phillips Cruises and Tours fleet, ensuring a superior passenger experience that will stand the test of time.”
The shipyard said there is ‘excellent’ fuel economy while maintaining an estimated fully laden cruise speed of 32+ knots.
Sign up for Riviera’s series of technical and operational webinars and conferences:
