Kvichak books order for 60 ft research catamaran

MARCH 24, 2015 – Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc., Seattle,WA, was recently awarded a contract for construction of a 60 ft aluminum catamaran research vessel for the California Department of Water Resources.

The vessel was designed by Incat Crowther, with design guidance and customer representation provided by Jensen Maritime Consultants.

The vessel’s primary application will be monitoring water quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic macro-invertebrates. It will be operating in the San Francisco Bay Estuary, San Pablo Bay Estuary and the Pacific Ocean within five miles of shore and the adjoining inland waterways.

Power will be provided by twin Cummins QSB6.7 diesel engines rated at 425 hp @ 2,800 rpm and driving through Twin Disc MGX5065 marine gears.

The pilot house laboratory has a full complement of scientific water monitoring equipment and the vessel has overnight accommodations for five scientists.

Delivery from the shipyard is scheduled for early 2016.

Additional vessel particulars:

• LOA: 60′ (18.3 m)
• Waterline length: 56′ (17.1 m)
• Beam: 24′ (7.3 m)
• Generators: (2) Onan 13.5kW
• Fuel Capacity: 2 x450 gal (1700 l)
• Fresh water Capacity: 2 x 125 gal (470 l)
• Cranes: (2) Morgan 200.2 on aft deck, 1 Morgan 200.2 on upper deck
• Furuno electronics package
• Flir M-324XP Thermal Imaging
• Laboratory area
• A/C & reverse cycle heating