July 16, 1985 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

Nichols Bros. Delivers High-speed Passenger Catamaran To Crowley

Nichols Bros. Boat Builders of Whidbey Island (Freeland), Wash., recently completed the 85-foot catamaran Catamarin (shown above) for Harbor Carriers of San Francisco, a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime.

The 30-knot, 400-passenger vessel will operate in commuter and charter service between San Francisco and Marin County points. Harbor Carriers operates the Red & White Fleet from Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf.

The Catamarin is powered by twin Deutz B/AM 816 diesel en- gines, each rated at 1,346 bhp, driving Coolidge propellers via Reintjes WVS 832 reduction gears. Speed is better than 30 knots light. Alaska Diesel Electric supplied the two 50- kw generators.

This new vessel is the third in a series of catamarans built by Nichols.

A fourth was scheduled for June christening and delivery to the Blue & Gold Fleet, also for operation in San Francisco.

Previous catamarans were the Klondike, built for Alaskan service, and the Spirit of Alderbrook, which is operating on Puget Sound. Crowley leased the Klondike last summer for use between Los Angeles Harbor and Catalina Island during the Olympics, then took the craft to San Francisco for experimental service.

The six-month trial period proved highly successful, according to Harbor Carriers, and set the stage for the order of the new catamaran.

Designs for these catamarans were originated by International Catamarans Pty. Ltd. of Australia.

Nichols Bros, holds the license for production of the catamarans in North America.

Other companies that supplied equipment for the Catamarin included Harris Electric and PSI for electronics, Systems Engineering for propulsion controls, Hough Marine for steering systems, Cascade Machinery and Pacific Pump for pumps, and Fisheries Supply Company for lifesaving gear and marine hardware.

Other equipment includes valves from Haller Company, motor starters from North Coast Electric, wiring and light fixtures from Hardware Specialties, anchor and rope from Everett Steel, doors from Pacific Coast Marine, and piping from Alaskan Copper and Brass.

Nichols recently signed a sublicense agreement with Atlantic and Gulf Boatbuilding, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for construction of one catamaran to the Australian design.

The Florida yard will build a 72-foot vessel for Bottom Time Adventures that will contain staterooms and be used for overnight trips to the Bahamas for diving expeditions.

Other stories from July 16, 1985 issue

Content

Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.