(BELLINGHAM, Wash.) — All American Marine (AAM) and the Hanke family, owners of Puget Sound Express (PSE), have announced the delivery of Swiftsure, the newest member of the PSE whale-watching fleet.
The vessel was modeled after Saratoga, built by All American Marine and designed by Teknicraft Design, which was delivered in the spring of 2018. The larger 77-foot Swiftsure will maintain performance while adding space to Puget Sound Express’ whale-watch and eco-tourism business.
The 150-passenger, semi-displacement catamaran hull for this vessel was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft in Auckland, New Zealand. The design integrates the signature Teknicraft symmetrical and asymmetrical combined hull shape, bow
wave piercer, and an 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 positioned between the catamaran sponsons to break up wave action and ensure reduced drag while enhancing passenger comfort.
“This is another very special occasion for Puget Sound Express,” said co-owner Peter Hanke. “The Swiftsure is the third boat that we have had the opportunity to build with All American Marine. Once again, this vessel has exceeded all performance expectations while incorporating EPA Tier 3 engines. Despite numerous supply chain challenges during the construction process, All American still delivered this exceptional vessel on time and on budget. They listened to us, and as they did on the first two vessels, met or exceeded our needs. We’re excited for our customers to
enjoy the Puget Sound on board Swiftsure.”
The catamaran, certified U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter T, has two asymmetrical semi-planing hulls and an adjustable aluminum midship hydrofoil plus two aluminum aft foils, which allow the boat to achieve top speeds of 40-plus knots. This design, coupled with finely tuned, wave-piercing eco bows, enables the boat to travel through both calm and rough water at full cruising speed, while keeping underwater noise to a minimum.
Swiftsure was designed from top to bottom for low fuel consumption at high speeds, a critical factor to the success of the daily whale-watch tours originating out of Edmonds, Wash. The vessel also features four HamiltonJet HJ364 waterjets, complete with a HamiltonJet control system.
“We’ve done many years of research to develop a vessel design that’s particularly low-wake, due in large part to our unique hydrofoil system that doesn’t displace as much water and create waves as is the case with traditional hull design,” said de Waal.
The vessel is powered by four Scania Di 16 082M engines with a rating of 800 hp at 2,300 rpm. The soundproofing details in the engine room ensure that the passenger cabin is quiet and comfortable throughout the ride.
The interior of the vessel is finished with recyclable Ayres aluminum honeycomb wall panels and recyclable Dampa aluminum ceiling tiles with acoustic insulation
that spans the main cabin as well as the interior cabin on the second deck. Other amenities include ADA-friendly accommodation spaces, Beurteaux seating, three restrooms, and an extended galley complete with a full-service bar for passengers.
Swiftsure is also equipped with seven high-definition TVs and a premium sound system with speakers inside and out.
– All American Marine
