All American Marine (AAM) has delivered Spirit of Matushka & Skana, twin 150-passenger hydrofoil-assisted catamarans for Major Marine Tours. The vessels will operate out of Seward, Alaska, and will carry passengers on wildlife tours visiting Kenai Fjords National Park. These 87’ (LOA) x 32” Teknicraft Aluminum catamarans, are certified USCG Subchapter T. The quad Hamilton waterjet vessels will add to Major Marine Tours’ fleet of glacier and wildlife cruise vessels in and around Kenai Fjords National Park.
The semi-displacement catamaran hull for these vessels was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand. The design integrates the signature Teknicraft symmetrical and asymmetrical combined hull shape, bow wave piercer, and innovative 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 all passengers a smooth ride and comfort as the hull provides a cushioned effect when encountering waves. These vessels include Hamilton Jet AVX controls which boast features such as the use of an intuitive Mouseboat controller as well as JetAnchor and Station Keeping modes. For the operator, one of the most valuable features of these vessels is the excellent fuel economy, consuming approximately the same gallons per nautical mile throughout the cruising speed range of 20 knots up to 30 knots, when fully laden. With a fuel capacity of 1200 gallons, this fuel-efficient design will be assisted by a fixed aluminum hydrofoil, enhancing its speed and stability at high speeds. The propulsion package includes 4x Hamilton Jet HM422 waterjets, powered by 4x Scania DI16 082 engines, rated at 788 bhp @ 2100 RPM.
“All American Marine worked with us to define our goals, design a vessel that met those goals, and then delivered. In fact, they under-promised and over-delivered. These new vessels with their capacity, comfort, and speed is going to be a game-changer for Major Marine Tours,” stated Colby Lawrence, Major Marine Tours Vice President. “Our customers are truly going to enjoy the spacious and accessible deck spaces when viewing whales and glaciers.”
Onboard these vessels, passengers can bask in the spacious comfort of two enclosed cabins, which include tables at every seat. All of the exterior seats are underneath covered canopies, including the open-air 3rd 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. These vessels also feature an expansive stadium standing area for wildlife and nature viewing.
Major Marine Tours is an award-winning, locally-owned Alaska boat tour company celebrating almost 30 years of sharing authentic Alaska adventures with its guests. Major Marine Tours has been recognized as an industry leader for pioneering both onboard interpreters and offering passengers reserved indoor seating.
