All American Marine Inc., Bellingham, Wash. has landed a contract to design and build a 48’x17’ research vessel for the University of New Hampshire. It will the latest in All American’s series of aluminum catamarans for oceanography science work.

The boat is inspired by the 48’x18’6”x4’8” R/V Auk that All American built for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2006 to monitor the Stellwagen Bank marine sanctuary off Massachusetts. Another near-copy is the R/V David Folger the company delivered in 2012 to Middlebury College in Vermont, which uses the vessel for research on Lake Champlain.

The concepts come from Teknicraft Design Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand, whose catamaran projects range from yachts to passenger ferries.

Teknicraft boats incorporate a signature hull shape with symmetrical bow, asymmetrical tunnel, and integrated wave piercer. The UNH boat will have propellers driven by a pair of Cummins QSB 6.7 Tier 3 engines, each rated 250 hp at 2,600 rpm. A similar power setup on the R/V Auk yielded a cruise speed of 20 knots and top end of 28 knots, according to AAM’s specifications for that vessel.

Auxiliary power will come from a Cummins Onan 21.5-kW generator. Deck gear includes a hydraulic A-frame at the transom, a davit, scientific winch, side mount sonar strut, and moon pool with deployable sonar strut.

The boat will enable scientists to collect data about the sea floor and ocean water column, collect samples and confirm “what our remote mapping systems are telling us about the sea floor and ocean environment,” said Larry Mayer, director of UNH’s School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, and co-director of the Joint Hydrographic Center at the university. Funding for the vessel comes from a grant through NOAA. Delivery is expected for early 2016.

“It is exciting to see that our early work with NOAA has helped establish All American Marine as a leader in the production of innovative aluminum research vessels and this new catamaran design promises to impress,” said Joe Hudspeth, All American's vice president of business development.