Business - Business News

POSTED: Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2009

Bellingham company to build high-speed ferry for Kitsap Transit

BELLINGHAM - All American Marine has landed a major ferry project that will not only keep the company busy for the coming months but could help protect sensitive shorelines.

On Tuesday, April 21, Kitsap Transit commissioners awarded the Bellingham boat building company a $5.3 million contract to build a high-speed, low-wake passenger ferry and test it in Rich Passage, which is south of Bainbridge Island. All American expects to start building the ferry in June, after it finishes another project, and take about 10 months to complete it, said Matt Mullett, CEO of the company.

It's a promising step for All American Marine, which is based in Fairhaven. If the boat can produce the desired low-wake results, it could lead to more orders because of the increased interest in protecting shorelines from the steady barrage of waves from a conventional ferry's wake, Mullett said.

"We've been working with state-of-the-art technology in order to improve our boats and continue to get better results," said Mullett.

The company has been working on low-wake technology for about five years, completing a ferry that was later sent to Alaska. All American then heard Washington state was doing similar work, leading to the Kitsap Transit project.

The 77-foot boat will be able to carry 118 passengers and reach speeds of between 34 and 37 knots.

The contract was part of a $9.5 million package approved by the Kitsap Transit commissioners. The commission also has approved the purchase of Rideshare vans and an expansion of a park-and-ride lot.