By Mark Edward Nero
Seattle-based workboat design and build company Kvichak Marine Services, which announced in early March that it’s merging with Vigor Industrial, has been awarded a build contract for an aluminum catamaran research vessel for the California Department of Water Resources.
The 60-foot (18.3-meter) vessel was designed by Australian naval architecture firm Incat Crowther, with design guidance and customer representation by Jensen Maritime Consultants.
The research vessel is to be powered by twin Cummins QSB6.7 diesel engines rated for 425hp at 2800 rpm and fitted to Twin Disc MGX5065 marine gears, according to Kvichak Marine, while the pilot house laboratory has a full supplement of scientific water monitoring equipment along with overnight accommodations for up to five scientists.
Additional vessel features include a waterline length of 56 feet (17.1 meters); a beam of 24 feet (7.3 meters); three Morgan 200.2 cranes; and two Onan 13.5 kW generators.
The vessel’s primary purpose will be monitoring water quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic macro-invertebrates. It is planned to operate in the San Francisco Bay Estuary, San Pablo Bay Estuary and the Pacific Ocean within five miles of shore and the adjoining inland waterways.
Delivery is scheduled for early 2016.
