VIDEO: Florida shipyard launches landing craft for Bahamas Ferries

Grand Master II offers 6,400 sq. ft of cargo space

AUGUST 10, 2017 — St. Johns Ship Building (SJSB), Palatka, FL, launched a 190 ft landing craft vessel, the Grand Master II, for Bahamas Ferries in front of a crowd in excess of 300. 

Designed for service among the Bahamian islands, the vessel is fitted with a forward, hydraulic bow ramp and offers 6,400 square feet of cargo space.

Propulsion is supplied by two 700 hp Cummings QSK19 main engines and Schottel rudder propellers. For manueverability, the vessel has a 22 inch electric Wesmar bow thruster, and ships power is supplied by two 99 kW John Deer generators. 

A raised two-story deckhouse on the aft of the vessel allows for unimpeded cargo room from the bow to stern. The first tier of the deckhouse supports the crew quarters, galley, and passenger lounge. The second tier contains the pilothouse and captain’s quarters.
 
This is the first of three landing craft the shipyard is set to deliver to Caribbean transportation groups in the near future.

Other projects nearing conclusion at SJSB are the series of eight 100 ft tugs for Vane Brothers, a 130 ft barge, a house barge, and another 190 ft landing craft.