14 DECEMBER 2017 • FOGHORN FOGHORNFOCUS: SECURITY/VESSEL REVIEW ENTERTAINMENT CRUISES, CHICAGO, IL SHIPBUILDER: METAL SHARK,JEANERETTE, LA ARCHITECT: BMT DESIGNERS AND PLANNERS,ALEXANDRIA,VA VESSELTYPE: WATER TAXI In October, Washingtonians received two 88-foot, 149- passenger high-speed aluminum catamaran water taxis. The Potomac Taxi I and Potomac Taxi II are powered by twin Scania DI13 081M engines, and feature an eco friendly low wake/low wash hull design. BMT Designers and Planners worked with BMT Nigel Gee on the design. LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS, SEATTLE,WA SHIPBUILDER: NICHOLS BROTHERS BOAT BUILDERS,WHIDBEY ISLAND,WA ARCHITECT: JENSEN MARITIME CONSULTANTS, SEATTLE,WA VESSELTYPE: OVERNIGHT CRUISE SHIP National Geographic Quest is Lindblad’s newest overnight cruise ship. The 263-foot vessel accommodates 100 overnight passengers in 50 cabins, nearly half of which have step-out decks for guests to take in the sights of Alaska’s Inside Passage in summer and Costa Rica, Panama and Belize in winter. NYC FERRY, A HORNBLOWER COMPANY SHIPBUILDERS: HORIZON SHIPBUILDING, BAYOU LA BATRE,AL METAL SHARK,JEANERETTE, LA ARCHITECT: INCAT CROWTHER, SYDNEYAUSTRALIA VESSELTYPE: FERRY This ambitious project introduced a new ferry service intended to rival subway ridership by offering commuters another option to go to and from work each day. Working si- multaneously with shipbuilders Metal Shark and Horizon Shipbuilding, 16 vessels have been constructed, delivered and put into service. In 2018, several more vessels are expected to be con- structed and delivered, including up to four 350-passenger ferries. Using technology to speed up the process to build the Incat Crowther-designed aluminum catamaran ferries, the vessels average per-unit build time was just 10 months. SAN FRANCISCO BAY FERRY WETA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA SHIPBUILDER: VIGOR, SEATTLE,WA ARCHITECT: INCAT-CROWTHER, SYDNEY,AUSTRALIA VESSELTYPE: FERRY Hydrus was placed into service inApril. This is a new class of vessels for the larger—and growing commuter ferry system. Hydrus is a 27-knot, 400-passenger ferry that is setting the standard for low emissions and minimized environmental impact. Entertainment Cruises, Potomac Taxi II Lindblad, National Geographic Quest NYC Ferry San Francisco Bay Ferry WETA, Hydrus