Freeport Shipbuilding Delivers Passenger Vessel To Nassau Cruises

Freeport Shipbuilding & Marine Repair, Inc. of Freeport, Fla., recently completed the excursion/dinner cruise vessel Calypso II for Nassau Cruises Ltd., a Bahamas-based company.

The 550-passenger vessel, with an overall length of 105 feet, beam of 29 feet, and depth of 9 feet 6 inches, is the largest craft that the Freeport yard has produced. She is also the fastest in terms of building time— 98 days from the beginning of construction to departure from the shipyard.

Calypso II is designed as a multipurpose vessel, with her primary function transporting passengers from cruise ships to a privately owned island just outside Nassau Harbor. Dinner cruises are another feature, with seating for more than 200 people on the main and second decks. The owner will also offer private charters, cocktail parties, and other services.

The new vessel was designed and built exclusively for the comfort and entertainment of her passengers, with dependability and safety the first two considerations. Initial drawings, establishing the outward appearance and arrangements, were done by Jim Murray, president and part owner of Freeport Shipbuilding.

The package was then sent to Maritime Design, a Jacksonvillebased naval architecture and marine engineering firm headed by Jim Konopaseck, to refine the structural aspects as well as the stability and tonnage requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping and the Coast Guard.

Main propulsion is provided by three Detroit Diesel 8V71 and Twin Disc 509 reverse/reduction gears, driving Columbian Bronze Tetradyne propellers via Aquamet 17 shafting. The main engines are supported by Globe Rubber resilient mounts to minimize vibration and engine noise. The engine exhaust systems are fitted with Maxim silencers.

Electric power is produced by two 35-kw Lima generators, each driven by a Perkins model 4.236 diesel. The generator control panel was supplied by Simplex, and is arranged for paralleling the outputs of both generators.

The passengers on the Calypso II have a choice of three decks offering completely different environments.

The third or sun deck is open with the exception of wind cloths laced to the handrails around the perimeter.

The second deck is designed for those who want to escape the tropical sun but still enjoy being in an open-air atmosphere. This deck includes a full-service bar. The main deck features a spacious enclosed area and also exterior seating along the sides of the enclosed bulkheads.

The enclosed area features a full bar identical to the one on the second deck. Food for the dinner cruises may be either catered or prepared on board in the galley that is located below the main deck.

Maneuverability is a critical factor in the vessel's operation due to coming alongside the cruise ships in open waters to load and off-load passengers. Therefore the Calypso II is fitted with a dual electric-driven, hydraulic steering system with three steering and engine control stations, one in the pilothouse and one on each bridge wing. Each station consists of three Kobelt singlelever, air engine control heads, a Wagner rudder angle indicator, and a Wagner elecric jog lever at the outside stations and an orbital helm unit in the pilothouse. Most importantly, the vessel is equipped with a Wesmar T-50 hydraulic bow thruster thruster, operable from each of the three control stations. The 50-hp thruster is powered by a hydraulic pump close-coupled to a Twin Disc power takeoff on the front of the centerline main engine.

A basic, but adequate, electronics package is installed, which includes a Furuno 240 radar, Standard Horizon VHF radiotelephone, Datamarine depth recorder, Sitex EZ7 Loran, and loudhailer. An Aiphone internal telephone system is also installed.

For further information and free literature on the services and facilities offered by Freeport Shipbuilding, C i r c l e 5 0 on Reader Service Card

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 7, Jul 15, 1986

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Maritime Reporter

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