Workboat Annual
Catalina Express' `work' environment is transporting more than one million passengers annually to beautiful Catalina Island.
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The Catalina Jet, a 499-passenger, 144-ft. 40-knot boat built by Nichols Brothers but built by another owner, is a perfect example to illustrate the Catalina Express philosophy. According to Bombard, the original owner cut corners in the engine room, resulting in an
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underpowered boat with waterjets that were too small. Last year Catalina Express repowered the boat with four Caterpillar 3512B diesel engines, rated at 1950 hp, drivelines, ZF gears and four Hamilton HM651waterjets. Reviewing the fleet and in discussions with Bombard Roger McElroy, Vice President, Vessel Engineering, a recurrence of themes and names consistently crop up: passenger comfort, ride control, fuel economy, and partnerships, in terms of the close relationships it builds and maintains with a core of trusted companies, including but certainly not limited to: Beurteaux, Caterpillar, Hamilton Jet, MTU, Nichols Brothers, Northern Lights and ZF. "Nothing is trouble free," said McElroy, "but the key is finding the companies that are there to fix it. Relationships in this business are huge, and it's important to know that there someone there to talk to." While new and proven technologies play a fair role in overall operations of Catalina Express, today's touch financial environment, with a slowdown in ridership and soaring fuel costs, demands some innovative approaches on the operation side of the business, too. Bombard said the company burns approximately 2.5 million gallons of fuel per year, and whereas fuel used to be half of his labor cost, fuel today is twice the cost of labor. Faced with fewer passengers and higher operating costs, the company has slowed its vessels. As illustrated on a recent run to Catalina
From ZF Marine, the 60000 NR2H.
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