Page 4: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1970)

The gas-turbine powered Avalon proved its design and efficiency while on trials in Puget Sound.

Largest Aluminum, Gas-Turbine Passenger Ferry

THE GTS AVALON

Spaulding-Designed, Martinolich-Built Ferry Will Carry 500 Passengers

At A Service Speed Of 25 Knots Between San Pedro And Catalina Island

The largest all-aluminum, gas-turbine-pow- ered passenger ferry, the Avalon, recently completed her sea trials in Puget Sound and has been turned over to her owners and op- erators, Holiday Services of Los Angeles,

Calif. The 500-passenger. 25-knot vessel will operate between San I'edro and Catalina Is- land, Calif.

The Avalon, costing more than $2 million, was designed by Philip F. Spaulding and As- sociates. naval architects and marine engineers in Seattle, Wash. It was built by the Martino- lich Shipbuilding Corporation of Tacoma,

Wash. The American Bureau of Shipping has classed the ship for short coastwise trade.

This ferry incorporates many "firsts" in its design and construction. The requirements given to the naval architect were to design a ship under 100 gross tons capable of cruising at speeds of 25 to 30 knots and to carry 500

All controls for operating the Avalon are centered in the pilothouse in full view of the helmsman and deck officer. passengers. No automobiles were to be car- ried. To meet these requirements meant using aluminum for the hull and superstructure and a lightweight propulsion system.

The passenger accommodations on the Ava- lon are considerably different from those on other ferryboats. The passengers ride in air- plane-type seats on the main deck and the upper deck. Kennels are provided so that pas- sengers may take their pets along with them.

The interiors are painted in various colors so that a vacation-type atmosphere is provided.

The 160-foot hull is subdivided by nine transverse watertight bulkheads extending to the main deck. Most of the compartments thus formed are void spaces. Saltwater ballast is carried in the compartment just aft of the fore- peak bulkhead. Amidships are located the pump room and spaces housing the fin stabil- izers. Further aft are the sewage holding tank,

The main passenger lounge can seat 333 people in air- craft-type seats. The snack bar is located in this area. fuel-oil tanks, potable-water tanks and another ballast tank. The engine room is located at the stern.

On the main deck is a forward lounge cap- able of seating 58 people. Aft of this space is the main lounge, which incorporates a snack bar, with a seating capacity for 333 people.

The forward end of the upper deck serves as a forecastle deck with vertical windlass-cap- stan, bitts and chocks. Just aft of the forward deck is an observation lounge with seating capacity for 67 persons. At the after end of the upper deck is a cocktail lounge with seating capacity for 62 people.

Above the upper deck amidships is the navi- gating bridge with a passenger observation platform just aft of the wheelhouse from which passengers can observe the operation of the vessel. (Continued on page 8)

The cocktail lounge is located on the upper deck aft of the stack. It ccn seat 62 people on comfortable sofas. 6 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News