Kitsap Transit launches second low wake ferry
Kitsap Transit took delivery in early March of the second of three low wake, high-speed passenger vessels. The Reliance is an aluminum catamaran with a composite superstructure that will operate Kitsap Transit's cross-sound Bremerton to Seattle route.
In a March 4 post on Twitter, Kitsap Transit said the new vessel will undergo multiple tests to ensure its meets specifications prior to entering service.
The catamaran was designed by Teknicraft in Auckland, New Zealand and constructed by All American Marine, Inc. (AAM). AAM explains the new vessel is designed and constructed to produce the least amount of wake wash energy in order to avoid degradation of sensitive shorelines.
“Reliance is not your typical ferry, it was built to be very lightweight and to fly smoothly through the wake sensitive zone,” explains Matt Mullett, CEO for All American Marine. “This vessel was strictly modeled on the proven hull design, but additional enhancements and modernizations were added without hampering performance.”
Kitsap Transit launched the 149-passenger electric hybrid vessel Waterman in February and a third sister ship vessel Lady Swift is currently under construction at AAM and will launch in summer 2019.
The 77-foot Reliance was designed to carry 118 passengers and travel at service speeds up to 36 knots. AAM constructed the hulls with high-tensile strength 5383 aluminum alloy. The passenger cabin and deck were made from composites. The dynamic hydrofoil was molded in carbon fiber and automatically adjusts as the vessel transits Rich Passage. Quad Hamilton 403 water jets and Caterpillar C-18 engines were fit to provide the high-powered propulsion system in compliance with EPA Tier III emission regulations. AAM explains that its craftsmen also utilized lightweight aluminum honeycomb panel materials for finishing the interior spaces and applied high-performance bottom paint to help accomplish the speed and wake requirements.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
