At a ceremony on April 2nd, 2011, Alaska Ship & Drydock, Inc delivered a new double‐ended ro‐ro passenger ferry to the State of Alaska. The new vessel, christened the M/V Ken Eichner‐2, was designed and engineered by Capilano Maritime Design Ltd. of North Vancouver.
The vessel will serve as a link between the Greater Ketchikan International Airport and the City of Ketchikan alongside the M/V Oral Freeman. The ferry accommodates 149 persons, and either 23 cars, or two large semi‐trailers and eight cars.
The M/V Ken Eichner‐2 provides a significant increase in deadweight capacity over her sister, in addition to a 5% displacement allowance for future growth in lightship. The off‐centreline starboard side deckhouse allows for easier loading and unloading of large trucks and is countered by 15 long tons of fresh water ballast.
The vessel incorporates a number of special features in order to meet the Owner’s manning requirement of just two crew members.
The ferry was designed and built under USCG (Subchapter T‐Small Passenger Vessels) and ABS (AMS, A1 +, Under 90 m Rules, Ro‐Ro Passenger Vehicle.
The principal particulars of the new vessel are as follows:
Length Overall: 116 ft ‐6 in
Beam (Breadth): 48 ft ‐0 in
Depth (Moulded): 12 ft ‐0 in
Design Draft: 9 ft ‐0 in
Design Displacement 422.7 long tons
Lightship Weight: 272.1 long tons
Fuel: 8,600 US Gallons
Propulsion: Conventional, one propeller turning at each end.
Main Engines: Two 850 HP Cummins KTA 38 MO Tier engines
Generators: Two 55 kW Northern Lights M55 C2 Tier II
Design Speed: 10 knots
Service Speed: 8 knots