38 OCTOBER 2018 • FOGHORN MEMBERNEWS South Ferry Signs Contract for Blount Boats to Build New Vessel South Ferry Company, Shelter Island, NY, has contracted with PVA Associate member Blount Boats, Warren, RI, to construct a steel passenger/vehicle ferry. The 101-ft x 40-ft double-ended ferry to be named Southern Cross will be built to carry a deck load of 260,000 pounds. Main propulsion will be provided by two Caterpillar series C-18 Tier III & IMO II Certified each rated at 470 HP @ 1800 RPM. Twin Disc MG-516 remote mount, reverse gears will transmit power to 4-blade, nibral ice strengthened propellers through 4’ Aquamet 22 propeller shafts. The Clark family, owners of South Ferry Company, have been providing trans- portation between Shelter Island, NY and North Haven, NY on Long Island’s southern tip since the 1700’s. The Southern Cross will be a sister ship to two other Blount-built ferries designed by PVA Associate member DeJong & Lebet, Jacksonville, FL, for South Ferry. The Sunrise delivered in 2002 and the Southside delivered in 2009. n Nichols Brothers Boat Builders Launch Lindblad Expeditions’ Newest Vessel The M/V National Geographic Venture, to be operated by Lindblad Expeditions, Seattle, WA, was launched on September 10. Built by PVA Associate member Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, WA, the new 100-passenger, overnight cruise vessel will soon join its sister ship, M/V National Geographic Quest, in cruising to such far-flung and exotic destinations as Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to Costa Rica, Belize, and Panama, as well as other ports in between. The 238.6-ft by 44.10-ft Jones Act coastal cruise vessel is a state-of-the-art, luxu- riously comfortable, purpose-built expedition vessel made for exploring coastal waters, shallow coves, and fast-moving channels where wildlife congregate. Spacious cabins, open decks for wildlife viewing, and specialty tools for explora- tion make it an ideal platform for voyaging in remote areas. After the vessel completes sea trials, the National Geographic Venture will be delivered to Lindblad Expeditions. n PVA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS Cape Cod Tours inc. dba Cape Cod Duckmobile Mr. Jon Britton Hyannis, MA Vessel Member www.duckmobile.com Captain Steve Tours Capt. Steve Rayow Clearwater, FL Vessel Member www.captainstevetours.com Pure Michigan Boat Cruises, LLC dba Sip n’Sail Cruises Ms. Veronica Dombrowski Mackinac Island, MI Vessel Member www.puremichiganboatcruises.com/ PVA CALENDAR October 22-24, 2018 PVA Great Lakes Region Meeting Lilac Trees Suites & Spa Mackinac Island, MI October 30 - November 1, 2018 PVA Western Region Meeting Hyatt Regency Maui Lahaina, HI November 7-9, 2018 PVA Original Colonies Region Meeting Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor Boston, MA November 14-16, 2018 PVA Rivers Region Meeting Meeting on Gateway Arch Riverboat Company's M/V Becky Thatcher St. Louis, MO January 17-20, 2019 PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2019 Hyatt Regency New Orleans, LA