Nichols Delivers 400-Passenger Catamaran

Klondike Express, a double-hulled passenger catamaran, was delivered to Brad and Helen Phillips by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. The vessel has a full load speed of 36 knots and carries 400 passengers on Phillips Cruises & Tours' "26 Galcier" sightseeing trip on Prince William Sound, out of Whittier, Alaska. The vessel was designed by International Catamaran Designs, Pty., Ltd., Sydney, Austrailia. It measures 132.7 ft. in length and 34 ft. in beam, with a 5.5 ft. draft. It will carry 4,000 gal. of fuel oil and 400 gal. of fresh water. Pacific Detroit-Diesel-Allison of Seattle supplied the 16V-4000 marine engines rated at 3,110 hp @ 2,000 rpm. Engines drive MJP 650 waterjets from Ulstein-Bird-Johnson through ZF Marine BU755-1 non-reversing 1.821:1 reduction gears. Propulsion controls were supplied by PDF. Alaska Diesel Electric supplied the two 99 kW Northern Lights generators for service power.