The following is the text of a news release from Elliott Bay Design Group:
(SEATTLE) — Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) of Freeland, Wash., has been selected to build a new American Samoa freight and passenger vessel. NBBB has contracted Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) to provide the design and production engineering for the project.
"We are very happy to be working with EBDG again on another landing craft project," said Gavin Higgins, CEO of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. NBBB contracted EBDG to complete the production engineering for the Bowhead Transportation landing craft, which the yard delivered late last year.
"We're excited about this new project and to be working with NBBB once again," stated Mike Complita, EBDG's vice president of shipyard services. "We look forward to making this job a successful one."
The proposed vessel, which is a 140-foot landing craft, has a beam of 38 feet, depth of 13 feet and accommodates up to eight crewmembers overnight. The boat is one of a small number available to transport local residents between the Samoan islands. Until recently, most of those vessels served the immediate community. The new landing craft, which will carry a total of 149 passengers, will also be available for tourists.
The design of the vessel is in accordance with ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels of 90 meters or less for the structural design, and meets U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requirements per 46 CFR Subchapter T or I.
