Bellingham company wins contract to build university marine research vessel
Bellingham shipbuilding company All American Marine has been awarded a contract to build a specialized research vessel for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The company has already begun construction on the ship that will serve as a multipurpose vessel used by the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology to access and study marine environments in the Hawaiian islands.
The aluminum catamaran is nearly 70 feet long and 25 feet wide with twin-engine speed. It’s designed for a crew of up to 12.
The boat features a specific design meant to break up wave action and improve comfort for those aboard the vessel. The boat also features reduced fuel use.
The vessel will host a variety of research missions including advanced studies on marine megafauna, sea and coastal ecosystem research, oceanographic surveys and grades K–12 learning experiences, according to a news release from All American Marine.
“We are delighted to have been chosen to build this vessel for the University of Hawaii. This vessel will expand U of H’s environmentally focused research activities and will aid them with their conservation efforts in the Pacific,” said All American Marine President and COO Ron Wille in the release.
The vessel was designed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design based in Auckland, New Zealand, and is being built to meet U.S. Coast Guard standards.
