A new passenger ferry has entered service in the U.S. Virgin Islands, operating between Red Hook on St. Thomas and Cruz Bay on St. John.
Designed by Incat Crowther, Sydney, Australia, and named Spirit of 1733 after a historic slave rebellion on St. John, the vessel was built by Gulf Craft LLC, Franklin, La., for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works. The ferry is approved under U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter K and joins two existing Incat Crowther-designed ferries that have operated on the route for more than a decade.
The aluminum catamaran is designed to carry up to 300 passengers at service speeds of 28 knots and is powered by twin Caterpillar C32 EPA Tier 4 main engines rated at 1,200 hp each. The propulsion package also includes Twin Disc MGX6620 gearboxes and fixed-pitch propellers. Two Caterpillar C4.4 generators provide auxiliary power.
The 104.3'x28' vessel has a maximum draft of 7'. Fuel capacity is 2,000 gals., with additional capacities including 200 gals. of urea, 500 gals. of fresh water, and 500 gals. of black water storage. The ferry has a reported range of 450 nautical miles at 24 knots.
The air-conditioned main deck cabin seats up to 202 passengers and includes five wheelchair-accessible spaces, two ADA-compliant bathrooms, and an enclosed luggage room. An upper deck provides outdoor seating for up to 100 passengers. Integrated side boarding ramps were incorporated to support passenger loading and unloading.
The wheelhouse was designed with 360-degree visibility and includes wing helm stations to assist docking operations.
“We are incredibly pleased with the positive impact that Spirit of 1733 has since entering into service,” said Derek Gabriel, commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, in a statement. “From the outset, we wanted a ferry that was designed specifically for our routes, our ports, and the conditions our operators and passengers deal with every day.”
Gabriel said the vessel is helping connect communities and support commerce between St. Thomas and St. John.
