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T he notion that North America’s short sea shipping program has yet to set sail is purely based upon the failure of stakeholders to fully employ water routes as a means to move freight in an economically and envi- ronmentally correct fashion. On the other hand, the model seems to work perfectly when it comes to the movement of commuters, tourists and yes, even cargo – all aboard North America’s many ferries. In this edition of MarineNews and our annual MN100 listings, we outline fi ve of the conti- nent’s best operators. Catalina Ferries The Catalina Express ferry company does its best to kick off passenger vacations well before customers reach the gentle shores of Santa Catalina Island, some 22 miles west of Los Angeles. Pay a bit extra for the 60-to-75 minute cruise and you enter the premium zone of the Commo- dore Lounge, complete with panoramic windows, leath- er-trimmed headrests and seats and beverages and snacks served by cabin attendants. You’re offi cially on vacation. Santa Catalina Island, 22 southwest of the Los Angeles megalopolis, has beckoned tourists for the last century, but the advent of aluminum fast ferries kicked the Catalina Express into high gear. The company expanded over the past 32 years from one to eight high-speed ferries, four of them catamarans, with six ports of call. Restrictions on the number of automobiles allowed on Catalina Island mean that the ferries move only foot passengers, as many as one million annually. Testimonials of satisfi ed passengers aren’t hard to fi nd, and the high-quality transportation experience is no ac- cident. The company worked closely with several boat builders to maximize passenger comfort. Nichols Broth- ers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island, WA has built three Spotlight on North American Ferries The most important part of the short sea shipping equation carries the most critical cargo: You. By Sarah McCoy MN 00 NORTH AMERICAN FERRIES Feature August 2014 40 MN 32-49 MN Aug14.indd 40 7/18/2014 1:33:01 PM
