Kitsap Transit launches second low wake ferry

March 13, 2019
This is the second of three low wake, high-speed passenger vessels. The new vessel will serve Kitsap Transit's Bremerton to Seattle route.

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.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. 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 serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.  

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.