By Karen Robes Meeks
Longtime Seattle-based marine electronics design and manufacturing company WESMAR recently announced that its 75-horsepower Hydraulic Stainless Steel Dual Prop Bow thruster will be part of a custom aluminum ferry designed and built for Homeland Security’s Long Island coastal waters.
The 118-foot-long, quad-screw ferry, which will be delivered later this year, is a diesel propelled crew boat style vessel with a welded aluminum mono hull and a 6-foot draft. WESMAR’s Dual prop bow thruster will give the ferry maneuvering and docking ability.
Gulfstream Shipbuilding, which won the contract to build the boat, partnered with naval architect C. Fly Marine Services, and WESMAR, who was represented in the contract by Birney Rouselle, Skipper Engineered Products LLC, Harahan, LA, a division of (WESMAR dealer) Donovan Marine.
When completed, the new ferry, which has not yet been named, will be able to carry up to 148 passengers and crew along with fire engines, support vehicles and freight on its rear cargo deck. It will be certified US Coast Guard Subchapter T, under 100-gt.
