(BELLINGHAM, Wash.) — All American Marine (AAM) has delivered Skana, a 150-passenger hydrofoil-assisted catamaran for Major Marine Tours. This is the second vessel delivered to Major Marine Tours by All American Marine in two years, and a sister ship to Spirit of Matushka, delivered in spring of 2021.
Skana will also operate out of Seward, Alaska, and will carry passengers on tours visiting Kenai Fjords National Park. This 87-by-32-foot Teknicraft aluminum catamaran is certified to U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter T.
The quad HamiltonJet waterjet vessel will add to Major Marine Tours’ fleet of glacier and wildlife cruise vessels in and around Kenai Fjords National Park. After the
commissioning of the first vessel, the company quickly realized the need for a second, identical vessel to keep up with its growing business and market demand.
The semi-displacement catamaran hull for this vessel was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand. The design integrates the signature Teknicraft symmetrical and asymmetrical combined hull shape, bow wave piercer, and innovative dynamic hydrofoil system. This advanced hull shape was custom designed using digital modeling and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.
The hull design is complemented by Teknicraft’s signature integration of a wave piercer that is positioned between the catamaran sponsons to break up wave action and ensure reduced drag while enhancing passenger comfort. The vessel’s design offers a smooth ride and comfort as the hull provides a cushioned effect when encountering waves.
The vessel includes HamiltonJet AVX controls which boast features such as the use of an intuitive Mouseboat controller. For the operator, one of the most valuable features on this vessel is the excellent fuel economy. With an increased fuel capacity of 1,900 gallons, this vessel was upgraded to include a dynamic aluminum hydrofoil, enhancing its speed and efficiency. The propulsion package includes four HamiltonJet HM422 waterjets powered by four Scania DI16 082 engines rated at 788 hp at 2,100 rpm.
“All American Marine worked with us to refine our goals, build a second, proven vessel that met those goals, and then delivered. In fact, despite building two boats during the midst of a global pandemic, they delivered both boats on time and on budget. This new vessel with its capacity, comfort, and speed is revolutionizing the fleet for Major Marine Tours,” said Colby Lawrence, Major Marine Tours vice president. “Our customers truly enjoy the spacious and accessible deck spaces when viewing whales and glaciers, particularly the stadium bow viewing area.”
There two enclosed passenger cabins that include tables at every seat. All of the exterior seats are underneath canopies, including the open-air third deck. Interior amenities include Beurteaux seats and electrical outlets with USB plugs at every table. The entire main deck, including the bow, has wheelchair access, and the main deck cabin includes wheelchair-designated seating locations.
– All American Marine
