In 2012, All American Marine, Inc. completed and delivered a new high-speed survey catamaran to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District. The Florida II is a 62’ x 24’ hydrofoil-assisted aluminum catamaran designed by Teknicraft Design of Auckland, New Zealand. The Florida II provides critical support for key U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District missions, including port dredging, navigation, shore protection, environmental studies, archaeological investigations, geotechnical analysis, military projects, emergency response, and tours.

“It’s stable, fast and can work in rough seas. When you are doing hydrographic surveys, those things are important to get quality survey data. We’re more efficient because we can get from place to place faster, and there’s less downtime. We can continue to work under heavier seas and in much bigger ports,” said Capt. David Morrison.

The catamaran hull with two pontoons provides a smooth ride and the straight track necessary for surveying. A wave breaker, positioned between the pontoons splits the waves in half, cushioning the ride. With a draft of fewer than four feet, the 62-foot vessel can navigate relatively shallow waters.

The survey vessel is powered by twin MTU 10v2000 engines (1205 HP) fit Hamilton Jet HM422 water jets. The vessel’s noise emission is mitigated with acoustic foam insulation and composite sandwich decking material. The cabin interior is finished with recyclable aluminum honeycomb wall panels and recyclable aluminum ceiling tiles with acoustic insulation.