By
Rebecca Gibson |
Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) has begun operations with its new 400-passenger aluminium ferry Argo in San Francisco, California.
Argo was recently delivered by US-based shipbuilder Vigor, which constructed the ferry’s hull at Vigor Ballard and her superstructure in the new aluminium fabrication bay at its Harbor Island facility.
“The new fabrication bay significantly expands Vigor’s production capabilities and capacity for our portfolio of aluminium workboats, high performance military craft and state-of-the-art ferries like Argo,” said Tim Kolb, general manager of Vigor Puget Sound. “It was fitting to have this award-winning design be our inaugural vessel for the new facility.”
Designed by Incat Crowther, Argo is the third of four identical all-aluminium, efficient and environmentally friendly passenger ferries that will be built by Vigor for WETA. Like her sisters Hydrus and Cetus, Argo has a service speed of 27 knots, thanks to her two MTU 12V4000 M64 engines, which can burn biodiesel B5 to reduce emissions. Argo also features a selective catalytic reduction after-treatment system developed by Pacific Power Group to clean exhaust gases.
All three ferries have a ‘floating’ superstructure that rests on 180 independent mounts, as well as engines and a wheelhouse sitting on isolation mounts.
“This configuration greatly reduces vibration, increasing passenger comfort,” said Jim Gow, Vigor’s senior project manager.
Vigor has already started construction on work on Carina, the fourth WETA ferry, and is expected to deliver her at the end of 2018.