Austal Delivers Circle Line’s First High-Speed Vessel

Versatile 43 metre passenger catamaran for New York operator.

Austal USA celebrated the completion of its sixth vessel on August 6, 2003. The 43.5 metre passenger catamaran has been delivered from Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama to New York City, where it joins the fleet of Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry, Inc. Circle Line transports thousands of passengers to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island each day.

“Zephyr” is Circle Line’s first aluminium high-speed vessel, and the second vessel Austal USA has delivered to the New York area in the last three months. Austal delivered the 41 metre monohull dinner cruise yacht “Cloud 9” to its owners in May.

The new catamaran meets Circle Line’s requirements for a vessel capable of fulfilling a variety of roles. With a service speed of 29 knots and a certificate of inspection (COI) for 600 passengers, the vessel has been developed through close co-operation between Austal USA and Circle Line and will expand the owner’s harbour sightseeing cruises and evening charter operations as well as providing speed and comfort on longer distance runs.

Most noticeable when entering through the large double doors forward is the atrium area, with a large expanse of skylight providing the twin benefits of an airy, spacious saloon and unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline from seats within the air-conditioned cabin. Equally striking is the circular Amtico dance floor set below the skylight.

The main deck is extremely spacious and incorporates a number of features to enable a variety of functions to be held onboard. For example, to facilitate onboard presentations there is a large screen that can be electrically lowered from the ceiling. This is supplemented by feed to 53 centimetre flat screen monitors that are suspended from ceiling and wall locations throughout the vessel. These can also receive direct satellite television service.

Laptop computer connections provided on the main and upper decks further enhance the catamaran’s appeal to corporate clientele and there are additional power outlets on the upper deck for commuters to hook into during their time aboard.

The main deck showcases comfortable curved Beurteaux seats of a design very similar to those fitted on some large Austal Ships vehicle ferries operating in Europe. The small, built-in drinks tables are another special touch.

Further aft on the main deck is the large concession/servery area, behind which is a unique feature of a vessel of this type: what Circle Line came to call the “Multi-Purpose Room”.

In the ferry mode this area becomes a cross walkway between the two, large aft passenger doors and links to the bathrooms. In the evening dinner cruise mode, the mahogany-look veneered cabinets (the veneer is repeated throughout the vessel) fold back ingeniously to reveal refrigerators, microwaves and ice maker with the overall space being large enough to locate a trolley loaded with pre-cooked meals. The room can also be completely shut off for food preparation, away from guests. Also in this space is a mobile counter that serves a number of functions, not least of which is as a ticket/check-in desk when it is wheeled onto the dock.

Male and female bathrooms are located right aft and on the external deck, where the engine soft patches all but invisible, there are two sets of bulwark doors. The design of these reflects the very important versatility the boat will offer, matching docks/boarding ramps throughout Manhattan.

Reflecting Austal’s commitment to providing solutions tailored to specific operational requirements, the vessel’s freeboard and bow loading have also been designed and built to be compatible with existing and planned future docks in Manhattan and will allow either bow loading or side loading from three separate entranceways.

The vessel will also be able to operate alongside Battery Park, the traditional home of Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry, where pilings and dock heights posed specific challenges. These were met in the realization of the design, with the fendering system made much larger than normal to accommodate for the piling angles, and the aft loading area being protected by a heavy duty stainless steel wear plate at each side onto which shore-side gangways can be located.

Passengers can make their way upstairs via the central staggered staircase or the very large double stairs aft, which also lead to the sun deck by way of a small landing on the upper deck. With up to 600 passengers being carried, great emphasis was placed on loading and unloading large numbers of people in a very short time, especially when operating in excursion mode. Circle Line’s experience in this regard was instrumental in ensuring “Zephyr” can be turned around in minimal time.

The upper deck also reflects the owner’s desire for versatility with the barely noticeable flush seat tracks forward a special feature that enables rapid conversion of the space into an open function area. Beurteaux Diner chairs are located around beautifully finished tables from the same supplier. Aft is another bar with booth windows from which passengers on the external deck are served.

Circle Line spent considerable time and effort launching the Zephyr product and the main colour theme of turquoise blue is evident throughout the vessel, both internally and externally. The effect is particularly striking on the sun deck, which is completely dominated by three separate banks of Turnbull benches. The centre bank can be readily removed to create open space if required.

The Austal catamaran is powered by four Cummins KTA38M2 diesel engines, each coupled to a Hamilton 571 waterjet through a Reintjes WVS 440 gearbox. This configuration allows “Zephyr” to be operated with either two or four engines, providing two distinct service speeds to match the vessel’s varied operating profiles. Noise levels onboard are extremely low even at top speed and when cruising the harbour the engines are barely noticeable.

The vessel is operated from a comfortably furnished bridge complete with two Bostrom SeaPost helm seats from which the crew can work state-of-the-art navigation equipment, including X and S-band radars, autopilot, DGPS, and chart plotter. Wing station controls are also provided.

Less than four years ago Austal USA introduced the Austal Group’s world-leading aluminium ship design and construction techniques to the US market so it is fitting that its latest high-performance vessel is also heralding an exciting new development in Circle Line’s operations on New York Harbor.

Austal USA’s next major undertaking is a 58 metre high-speed vehicle-passenger ferry; the first of its kind planned for operation within the continental United States. The Auto Express 58 will enter service on Lake Michigan between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Muskegon, Michigan, in May 2004.

PRINCIPAL PARTICULARS
Length Overall: 43.5 metres
Length Waterline: 37.4 metres
Beam Moulded: 11.5 metres
Hull Depth Moulded: 3.5 metres
Maximum Draft: 1.4 metres
Passengers: 600
Fuel (maximum): 22,710 litres
PROPULSION
Engines: 4 x Cummins KTA 38 – M2; 895kW at 1800rpm each
Gearboxes: 4 x Reintjes WVS 440 DL
Waterjets: 4 x Hamilton 571
PERFORMANCE
Speed: 29 knots
SURVEY
Survey USCG according to 46 CFR Subchapter K - Coastal

ENDS