All American Marine, Bellingham, Wash., has launched a new research vessel built for the California Polytechnical Institute at Humboldt. The R/V North Wind will now undergo sea trials ahead of its delivery and entry into service later this year.
The new vessel is a 78’ x 26.7’ semi-displacement aluminum catamaran developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design, Auckland, New Zealand.
Inspected as a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Subchapter T vessel, the newbuild will operate as a multipurpose research vessel in the near-coastal waters of northern California and Oregon and on offshore and ocean routes.
“The vessel integrates the signature Teknicraft Design symmetrical and asymmetrical combined hull shape, bow wave piercer, and a patented dynamic hydrofoil-assisted hull design,” according to a statement from AAM. “The hull and hull components are designed to break up wave action and ensure reduced drag while enhancing passenger comfort. This design is proven to have both low-wake wash energy and increased fuel economy. This advanced hull shape was custom-designed using digital modeling and computational fluid dynamics analysis testing.”
According to the builder, the Teknicraft design provides excellent fuel economy, consuming around the same gallons per nautical mile throughout the estimated cruising speed of 18-24 knots, with a fuel-efficient survey operation speed of 4-8 knots, fully laden. Its fuel capacity is 1,600 gallons.
The propulsion package includes two fixed-pitch propellers powered by twin MAN D2862LE438 EPA Tier 4 engines equipped with a diesel particulate filter. The engines, rated at 1,182 bhp at 2,100 RPM, are designed to meet California air emission requirements.
The vessel will carry will up to 40 total day passengers, or 14 live-aboard. Scientists and crew will have comfortable live-aboard quarters, large wet and dry lab spaces, as well as a range of oceanographic equipment for a variety of missions. The vessel is outfitted with a Kongsberg ADCP electronics suite augmented by a fixed WASSP multibeam system.
North Wind will replace the university's existing research vessel, the 90’x22’4”x9’ R/V Coral Sea — built in 1974 by Lindwell Boatworks, Santa Barbara, Calif. — which is planned to be retired by 2026.
Eric Riggs, Dean of Cal Poly Humboldt’s College of Natural Resources & Sciences, said North Wind has been designed abd built “specifically to advance our academic vision of educating future scientists, while keeping the latest environmental standards in mind.”
The new vessel incorporates proven design elements of two research vessels previoulsy delivered by AAM: the R/V Shackleford for Geodynamics, Newport, N.C., which was named a 2023 WorkBoat Significant Boat of the Year, and University of Hawaii at Manoa’s R/V Imua.
Riggs said All American Marine’s earlier research vessel newbuilds influenced the decision Cal Poly officials’ decision to go with AAM.
“They have an excellent record designing and building state-of-the-art research vessels to the performance specifications we need on California’s North Coast, and this was a key consideration when we chose them as our builder. Upon completion, this vessel will become the centerpiece of our academic fleet, supporting our marine research and teaching efforts for decades to come.”
