A new hydrofoil-assisted aluminium catamaran ordered by Phillips Cruises and Tours of Alaska was recently launched in Washington State.
North Star will operate from Whittier on glacier and wildlife tours in Prince William Sound. Ordered in February, she is the second vessel in a series to be ordered by the same owner.
The main change from the first vessel, Chugach Express (pictured), is fuel capacity. North Star will carry 1,600 gallons (6,100 litres) compared with 1,200 gallons (4,500 litres) aboard her sistership.
The 84.5-foot (25.8-metre) semi-displacement catamaran has a beam of 30.7 feet (9.36 metres).
The vessel was designed by New Zealand-based Teknicraft Design with a wave-piercing bow and a system of dynamic hydrofoils.
The catamaran is built to US Coast Guard Subchapter T standards.
Propulsion comes from four Scania DI16 082M engines driving four MJP 350X waterjets. This is the same setup fitted to Chugach Express.
The vessel can carry up to 150 passengers, with enclosed seating on two decks. She also has exterior wildlife-viewing areas and full accessibility on the main deck.
