All American Marine (AAM), Bellingham, Wash., has delivered the Skana, a 150-passenger hydrofoil-assisted catamaran, to Major Marine Tours.
This is the second new 150-passenger cat delivered to Seward, Alaska-based Major Marine by AAM in two years. The Skana is a sister ship to the Spirit of Matushka, delivered in the spring of 2021. The 87'x32' Teknicraft Design aluminum cats are Coast Guard Subchapter T certified. This vessel will also operate out of Seward and will carry passengers on tours visiting Kenai Fjords National Park.
The cat is powered by quad Hamilton Jet HM422 waterjets, powered by four Scania DI16 082 engines rated at 788 bhp at 2,100 RPMs each. The vessel joins Major Marine's fleet of glacier and wildlife cruise vessels in and around Kenai Fjords National Park. After the commissioning of the first vessel, MMT needed a second, identical vessel to keep up with its growing business and market demand.
The semi-displacement catamaran hull for the vessel was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft, Auckland, New Zealand. The design integrates the signature Teknicraft symmetrical and asymmetrical combined hull shape, bow wave piercer, and innovative dynamic hydrofoil system. This advanced hull shape was custom designed using digital modeling and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. The hull design is complemented by Teknicraft’s signature integration of a wave piercer that is positioned between the catamaran sponsons to break up wave action and ensure reduced drag while enhancing passenger comfort. The vessel’s design offers passengers a smooth ride and comfort. The hull provides a cushioned effect when encountering waves.
The vessel includes Hamilton Jet AVX controls which has an intuitive Mouseboat controller. With an increased fuel capacity of 1,900 gals., this vessel was upgraded to include a dynamic aluminum hydrofoil, enhancing its speed and efficiency.
“All American Marine worked with us to refine our goals, build a second, proven vessel that met those goals, and then delivered. In fact, despite building two boats during the midst of a global pandemic they delivered both boats on time and on budget. This new vessel with its capacity, comfort, and speed is revolutionizing the fleet for Major Marine Tours,” Colby Lawrence, Major Marine Tours vice president, said in a statement. “Our customers truly enjoy the spacious and accessible deck spaces when viewing whales and glaciers, particularly the stadium bow viewing area.”
Onboard the vessel, passengers can enjoy two enclosed cabins, which include tables at every seat. All of the exterior seats are underneath covered canopies, including the open-air third deck. Interior amenities include high-quality Beurteaux seats and electrical outlets with USB plugs at every table. The entire main deck, including the bow, has wheelchair access and the main deck cabin includes wheelchair-designated seating locations. The vessel also features an expansive stadium standing area for wildlife and nature viewing.
