MV Susitna. Photo via Guido Perla & Associates
“The world’s only planing, beaching, swath hulled ferry built at a hideously great expense ($80M+?) to the US Navy for a route to nowhere and a service that nobody wants”, is up for sale. At least that’s how “c.captain”, aka the U.S.-flag’s toughest supporter, describes it.
*UPDATE as of 1 Feb 2013* The ship is now being offered for free to any government entity which will take it, or for dirt cheap to the commercial sector
The vessel, named the MV Susitna, was constructed in 2010 at former Alaska Ship & Drydock in Ketchikan (now Vigor) at the request of the Office of Naval Research who was looking to test new designs that may someday work as military vessels. When construction began, the Susitna was to be owned and operated as a ferry in Alaska for the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough providing service between Anchorage and Port Mackenzie while being assessed by the ONR. The only problem, however, was that there were no ferry terminals and the vessel never entered service. So now it’s up for sale!
The MV Susitna is unique in a number of ways and actually quite interesting. In the end it just didn’t work.
The design for the “expeditionary craft” was created by Guido Perla & Associates, Inc (GPA) and is based on a concept created by Lockheed Martin. It is a ABS-certified “E-Craft” that measures 59 meters in length and is capable of carrying 129 passengers, plus 20 vehicles or one tractor-trailer rig. The vessel also incorporates lift technology that will allow the ferry to change from the Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) mode to barge mode by lowering or raising its center deck. The vessel also built with an ice strengthened hull (the first-ever for a SWATH hull) and is beachable.
But what possibly could the Susitna be used for? We’re not sure, but someone mentioned that Shell fits the buyers profile. Who knows though, the E-Craft could be yours for an unspecified price.
More MV Susitna Photos
Why was no ferry terminals a problem? Looks like it didn’t need anything but a beach.
Make one great party barge.
The intended ferry route has a very high tidal range, so the barge mode (center hull down) was for low tide and the SWATH mode (center hull up) was for high tide. The tougher ferry terminal was needed on the undeveloped end of the route (Port Mackenzie), but both ends would have had to have terminals built specifically for specialized ferry designs such as this. It would not be a good party barge as it was difficult to route passenger traffic between the inner and outer hulls at the two configurations, or even on and off the ship at such different drafts. One other requirement was to serve as a rescue boat for any plane crash around Anchorage airport.
lockheed martin had been trying to sell its Slice design to shipyard/operators for offshore crew transport-supply vessel. lockheed had also desiged a crew transfer device as well to be used with their SLICE vessel. if this is ice rated, and they have specified “Shell” as a profile customer they may be looking to market for Arctic operations for offshore fields.
so there is like 2 dozen sites in the world where they could use this full time….(maybe it will catch on for 1/4 the price?)
Basically a landing craft that's 2x as large as a comparable cargo tonnage landing craft with a ludacris service draft…
Very cool
I kind of want it.
Dirt cheap eh? Can someone say new KP training vessel?
Research Vessel
It looks perfect!
A little on the big side for LRT support but as a Sub/Rov/Mapping… not sure what to do with the shallow draft capabilities but it looks kinda cool.
You paid for it… that is the rub. Only Government can screw up a wet dream. Fine you then throw you in prison of having it.
You paid for it… that is the rub. Only Government can screw up a wet dream. Fine you then throw you in prison of having it.
You paid for it… that is the rub. Only Government can screw up a wet dream. Fine you then throw you in prison of having it.
The Sandy Hook-to-Sheepshead Bay Ferry could become a reality!
Giant Nome Gold Dredge.
Give it to Bengladesh and save thousands of lives. Don’t worry about Lockheed-Martín, they’re cleaning up with their Drones.