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July, 2005 • MarineNews 21 Circle 236 on Reader Service Card Circle 225 on Reader Service Card Last year's arrival of the M/V Fair- weather left an indelible mark in the U.S. fast ferry and shipbuilding industry by becoming the first high speed ferry built in the U.S. The M/V Chenega, unveiled earlier this year as the second of a $68M two-vessel contract, follows suit in the Alaska Marine Highway's (AMHS) effort to overhaul its regional water transporta- tion system. The AMHS turned to Derecktor Shipyards to construct the high-speed passenger and automobile fer- ries, aiming for fast, modern, efficient and environmentally-friendly vessels. Designed by Nigel Gee & Associates, the 235-ft. M/V Chenega can carry 250 passengers and 35 cars and travel at speeds up to 36 knots. It employs a twin- hull catamaran design of lightweight alu- minum construction, and powered by four MTU medium-speed diesel engines, each driving a Kamewa waterjet propulsor. The ferry, which was christened at a ceremony at Derecktor's Bridgeport, Conn. Shipyard in December 2004, uti- lizes a range technologies aimed to achieve safety and compatibility to inter- face with existing AMHS docks and pier side facilities. Like the Fairweather, the Chenega is equipped with two Quantum QT 120 thrusters, designed for maneuvering power in demanding environmental con- ditions. The QT 120's are 480V electric with variable frequency drives and three control stations. Both the Fairweather and Chenega are equipped with four rugged Northern Lights M6125T generators, rated up to 185kW at 1800 rpm. Based on a compact six-cylinder in-line Lugger diesel engine, it is built to withstand the tough condi- tions at sea. "These vessels are ruggedly built for 'rapid transit' over long distances in a very tough environment. At the same time, the passengers onboard need a comfortable, quiet and safe environment while they travel. Our M6125T generators were selected because they meet both these cri- teria," said Mike Maynard, vice president of Northern Lights. The vessel is classed with the DNV Maltese Cross 1A1 HSLC, R3 and with full USCG compliance to SOLAS/HSC Code Cat. B. The M/V Chenega will sail in the Prince William Sound area of south-central Alas- ka, connecting the ports of Cordova, Valdez, and Whittier. The Alaska Marine Highway System announced that the M/V Chenega will likely miss its target deployment date of July 1 due to labor negations. FAST FERRIES M/V Chenega takes Alaska The M/V Chenega, which was christened at a ceremony at Dereck- tor's Bridgeport, Conn. Shipyard in December 2004, utilizes a of range technologies aimed to achieve safety and compatibility to interface with existing AMHS docks and pier side facilities. JULYMN2005 3(17-24).qxd 6/30/2005 12:32 PM Page 21
