Washington boat builder to supply catamaran fishing vessels to American Samoa

The American Samoa Department of Commerce has awarded ACI Boats of Port Townsend, Washington, a U$3 million contract to build four new aluminium fishing vessels.

The vessels will utilise a semi-displacement catamaran design developed by ACI Boats and Coastwise Marine Design of Nordland, Washington. Each will measure 38 by 14 feet (11.5 by 4.2 metres) and will have features including self-bailing decks, a forward-leaning full beam cabin with cuddy, a galley, and a head.

Fishing equipment will include Lingren-Pitman commercial hydraulic longline gear, three ProFisher electric deep-sea reels, a worktable, and two 75-cubic-foot (2.1-cubic-metre) insulated fish holds.

The boats will each be powered by twin Yanmar 195hp (145kW) diesel inboards and will be outfitted with Garmin navigation electronics.

ACI Boats said the first of the four vessels, to be completed in the fall/winter of 2022, will be used as a training platform for boat owners, captains, and deckhands. The following three boats will be completed over the course of 18 months and will then be available for lease by the Department of Commerce to local fishers.