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Ready to Burn: Fast Ferry Market Looks Good Predicting business trends in the noto- riously fickle marine business is diffi- cult if not impossible. Yet when devel- opments transpire as they have in the fast craft niche of the ferry business, it is difficult to not read the writing on the wall. The business of designing, build- ing, outfitting and operating fast ferries in the United States is set to take off, as increasing pressures from traffic and environmental concerns force more peo- ple to the waterways. U.S. waterborne passenger transport already is large, according to Tim Kelley of Dalton & Kelley, who gave a presen- tation on the matter at the 17th Fast Ferry Conference, held March 13-15, 2001 in New Orleans. Currently there are 400 operators carrying more than 205 million passengers and 31 million vehicles annually. The largest U.S. ferry operator is Washington State Ferries, with 20 con- ventional speed car/passenger and five all passenger ferries, serving 20 ports and carrying 23 million passengers. The largest U.S. fast ferry operators are Boston Harbor Cruises with five vessels, and Catalina Channel Express with nine fast ferries (six capable of carrying 149 passengers). Operators in Seattle, San Francisco, Alameda, Long Beach, Boston and New York either have already or will acquire additional all- passenger fast ferries in 2001. The push for speed reaches far beyond the swagger of owning the largest, fastest vessel. Rick Nolan, president of Boston Harbor Cruises, explained at a recent SOCP meeting held at the Massa- chusetts Maritime Academy that the investment in the company's fast craft fleet helped the company double its business, from 900,000 passengers car- ried to 1.8 million passengers carried per year, in only three years. "We're very happy with the boats and their effects on our operations," Nolan said. Each of the company's smaller (121 ft. (37 m), 400 passenger) vessels are powered by four Circle 310 on Reader Service Card wvvw.maritimereporterinfo.com August, 2001 www.maritimereporterinfo.com 27 ^AMSTEEL BLUE M -t ? Hi §1 1 . m f-" Oi The dark ages are over and so are the days of wire mooring lines. Why continue the drudgery and injury associated with the use of wire mooring lines? The lightweight and * strength of AmSteel®-Blue saves time, money, and the environment while eliminating back injuries. Harness technology and let it work for you. Many major shipping companies have retrofitted their fleets from wire to AmSteei®-Blue mooring lines. They saw the light - and the savings, and so can you. • Outlasts wire mooring lines by 3-4 times • Decreases mooring time by 50% - 75% • Greatly reduces injuries associated with the use of wire rope • Eliminates maintenance required for wire mooring lines AmSteel®-Blue is now recognized as the synthetic replacement for wire mooring lines. For more information contact Samson Rope Technologies and ask for our Marine Applications Engineer. RDPE T E C H N • L O G I E 5 The Strongest IVnine In Rope . 2090 Thornton Street, Femdale, WA 98248 {T} 800.227-7673 / 360.384.4669 {F} 800.299.9246 / 360.384.0572
