The vessels, MV Sally Fox and MV Doc Maynard, are two ferries operating for King County’s Marine Division as replacement vessels for their scheduled water taxi service. Sally Fox is the first U.S. Coast Guard Sub-chapter “K” inspected passenger vessel built and delivered under the new 5A Space Performance Guidelines issued in a Memorandum regarding NVIC 9-97 Ch-1. The Memorandum is a result of the Quality Partnership working group between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Passenger Vessel Association. The new 5A Space Performance Guidelines make it possible for boat builders to design and implement suitable structural fire protection in very low fire load spaces in the construction of weight-sensitive high speed passenger vessels.
The new ferries operate in the Puget Sound providing passenger-only service from Vashon Island to downtown Seattle. The sister vessel, MV Doc Maynard operates from West Seattle to downtown. “We are honored to have this opportunity to construct world-class passenger ferries that are fuel efficient, dependable, and cost-effective,” stated All American Marine CEO, Matt Mullett. King County’s two new vessels will be supported by a third All American Marine-built catamaran, Spirit of Kingston, which was acquired by the County in 2013.
AAM partnered with the naval architecture firm, Teknicraft Design Ltd., of Auckland, New Zealand for the hull design. Each 105’ x 33’ aluminum catamaran features an advanced hull shape that was custom designed using digital modeling and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis testing. 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 water taxis are powered by twin Cummins QSK-50 tier III engines, rated 1800 bhp @ 1900 rpm to provide a service speed of 28 knots. The design features interior seating for 250 with 28 additional outdoor seats available on the upper aft deck. The layout of each passenger deck was configured to help streamline the boarding and disembarking process. The main deck is ADA-accessible and the cabin includes designated seating areas for those with disabilities. The aft deck includes a staggered height bicycle storage rack with accommodation for 26 bicycles. As an environmentally friendly alternative to paint, the decks are covered with peel-and-stick non-slip tread and the exterior of the superstructure is wrapped in UV-stable vinyl.
