Pacific Northwest ferry and excursion vessel operator FRS Clipper Inc., Seattle, has revealed the name of its new whale-watching boat currently under construction at Mavrik Marine Inc., La Conner, Wash.
The new 103.4'x32' high-speed aluminum catamaran will be named the Emerald Clipper, the company wrote on social media. It is scheduled to be delivered in 2026.
Designed by One2Three Naval Architects, Sydney, Australia, the USCG Subchapter T vessel will have capacity for up to 150 passengers plus a crew of four to eight.
It will be powered by quad Scania DI16-082M Tier 3 diesels, each producing 800 hp at 2,100 rpm. The engines will power HamiltonJet HTX42 waterjets through ZF 655 SC gearboxes. The boat will cruise at 32 knots, and it will have a range of 340 nautical miles — enough to reach the full length of Puget Sound and the Juan de Fuca Strait.
FRS Clipper, backed by global ferry operator FRS Group of Germany, runs naturalists-led wildlife and whale watch tours from Seattle’s Pier 69.
The Emerald Clipper is constructed built to replace the aging 85.3'x32.8 San Juan Clipper, built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp., Somerset, Mass., in 1990. It will make up to two round trips per day during peak periods.
“We are getting a vessel that enables people to enjoy the beauty of Puget Sound with the minimum possible footprint,” FRS Clipper CEO Mark Collins told WorkBoat. “Its quiet, low-emission, and low-wake design will bring guests near to nature with minimal intrusion on the cleanliness and health of our waters. It is the perfect platform for our dedicated naturalists to educate and engage guests in the wonders of Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.”
Special consideration was also given to onboard comfort and the passenger experience, said Collins. “The new vessel is quiet and comfortable inside and out. The interior features inviting seating, air conditioning, entertainment systems, and an expansive galley and gift shop offering hot food, snacks, beverages, bar service, and mementos,” he said.
Floor-to-ceiling windows will provide nearly 360° views from the boat’s interior, while the exterior will feature two broad upper viewing decks with covered, wind-protected seating and great views from the full walkaround deck. “We gave a lot of thought to sightlines from the interior so all guests will have great viewing experiences,” said Collins.
