40 APRIL 2018 • FOGHORN MEMBERNEWS Washington state’s Kitsap Transit’s board recently approved a $15 million contract with All American Marine, Inc. (AAM), Bellingham, WA, for the construction of two additional Rich Passage-class passenger ferries. The new ferries will be designed to operate on Kitsap Transit’s current cross sound ferry route between Bremerton and downtown Seattle. The design of the new vessels is based upon the ultra low wake All American Marine built, Rich Passage 1. The two new vessels are currently dubbed “RP-2” and “RP-3” after their sister ship, Rich Passage 1, that estab- lished the vessel class. Rich Passage 1 was built by AAM in 2011 as a research vessel for a demonstration study to prove that high-speed passenger ferry service could safely operate through Rich Passage without causing detrimen- tal shoreline erosion. Extensive wake wash testing and beach monitoring has shown that the Rich Passage 1 is a viable solution. The new boats will fill the need for addi- tional service with one vessel and the other available as a spare or to fill in where needed. “This is kind of an exciting day for the fast ferry program, that we can get the addi- tional RP-class boats under construction,” Kitsap Transit executive director John Clauson said. “Rich Passage 1 is not your typical ferry, it was built to be lightweight and to fly smoothly through the wake sensitive zone,” explains Matt Mullett, CEO forAllAmerican Marine. The new boats will be strictly modeled on the proven hull design, but additional enhancements and modernization will be added where possible without hampering perfor- mance or its low-wake characteristics. The 77-ft ferries can carry 118 passengers and travel at service speeds up to 37 knots. AAM will construct the hulls with high tensile strength 5383 aluminum alloy. The passenger cabin and deck are made from composites and an adjustable hydrofoil will be molded in carbon fiber. Quad water jets and PVA Associate member Caterpillar’s C-18 engines will be fit to provide the high-powered propulsion system in compliance with EPAtier III emission regulations. AAM’s craftsmen will also utilize lightweight aluminum honeycomb panel materials for finishing the interior spaces and will apply high performance bottom paint to further enhance the speed and wake characteristics. n Kitsap Transit Approves $15 Million Contract for Two All American Marine High-Speed, Low-Wake Ferries • Reduced Fuel Consumption • Reduced Wake Wash • Optimized Trim Control • Increased Passenger Comfort and Safety • Active Ride Control Stabilization