St. Augustine Trawlers Delivers 600-Passenger Ferry For Mexico

In 1983 the Jacksonville, Fla., naval architectural firm of DeJong & Lebet, Inc. signed a contract with Transportes Maratimos de Yucatan y del Caribe S.A. to design a 600-passenger ferryboat for fast service between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, Mexico. A combined effort with St. Augustinebased shipbuilder St. Augustine Trawlers, Inc. resulted in a remarkable elapsed time between contract signing and delivery of about three months.

The vessel was further designed to receive passengers from visiting cruise ships while at anchor at sea. Special hull construction and a high degree of maneuverability make this operation possible in complete safety under most sea conditions.

The Playa del Carmen has an overall length of 121 feet, beam of 27 feet, depth amidships of 11 feet, and full-load draft of 6 feet. She is powered by three GM Detroit Diesel 12V92-TA engines, each rated 600 bhp at 1,800 rpm. Power is transmitted to the 4-bladed Columbian Bronze propellers through Twin Disc reduction gears. Shafting is 4-inch Armco Aquamet; engine controls are by Kobelt. The bow thruster is a Schottel Model S-51, driven by a Detroit 3-7IN diesel. Cruising speed is 15.7 knots.

Two Lima generators are driven by Detroit 3-71N engines. The capstan was supplied by New England Trawler, and air supply fans are by Hartzell.

Other stories from April 15, 1984 issue

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