The following is the text of a news release from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding:
(SOMERSET, Mass.) ─ August 28, 2013 ─ Bay State Cruise Company, Boston, Mass., has taken delivery of a new fast ferry from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, to carry passengers between Boston and Provincetown, Massachusetts. Provincetown IV will operate daily on the 48 nautical mile, 90-minute run, along with its near sistership, Provincetown III, which the Somerset, Mass., shipyard built in 2004.
Designed by Incat Crowther, the new 150-passenger ferry will allow Bay State Cruises to accommodate peak demands of the short summer season, and extend the off-peak shoulder seasons while the sister vessel serves other markets, explained Bay State officials.
The all-aluminum catamaran measures 98 feet (30m) overall, 29.5 feet (9m) at the beam, and draws six feet (1.8m). It is powered by twin MTU-16V2000M72 diesel engines, each delivering 1503 Bhp at 2150 rpm and turning ZF Marine, five-blade, Ni-Br-Al propellers. The twin gearboxes are Twin Disc MGX-6848SC QuickShift. The ferry is equipped with a Cummins/Onan 40 kW generator and Naiad Dynamics hydraulic trim tab motion-control system. Top speed is 30 knots in moderate seas, with a dead-weight of 21 tonnes.
The vessel features the designer’s “S” bow hull, which, according to the builder, has proved to have excellent seakeeping, directional stability and a high tolerance to shifts in trim and displacement.
The vessel’s seating arrangement reflects a blend of both interior and exterior comfort during the summer season. The main cabin has generously spaced Beurteaux seats and tables for 108 passengers, a snack bar and two heads. A 120,000 Btu HVAC system heats and cools the main cabin and wheelhouse. Outdoor seating is provided on the aft and forward decks. The upper deck features partially protected outdoor seating for 83 passengers.
Luggage racks are arranged throughout the vessel, and space for bicycles is on the forward and aft decks. Onboard Wi-Fi is also provided for passengers throughout the trip.
