Day Boat Alaska Class Ferries - Tazlina

Vigor's Ketchikan Alaska facility was contracted to build Alaska Marine Highway System’s two newest ferries. The two ferries, Tazlina and Hubbard, are the first of their kind ever built in Alaska by Alaskans. They will serve citizens along the Lynn Canal route between Juneau, Haines and Skagway. Construction of both vessels began in October 2014. Tazlina was christened in 2018 and Hubbard was completed in 2019.

The vessel design for the Alaska Class Ferries had to overcome the challenges of Alaska’s heavy seas, high winds and freezing spray. Testing was performed on the hull form in a wave tank at Force Technology Denmark to allow designer, Elliott Bay Design Group, to optimize performance in heavy seas and improve passenger comfort. The vessels are classed ABS Ro/Ro and carry 300 passengers and 53 vehicles via both a bow and stern door. They will connect Alaska citizen in remote areas.

Watch the video of M/V Tazlina during sea trials below.

Principal Characteristics

Class name

Alaska Class Ferry

Type

Ro-Ro ABS Classed Passenger Ferry

Length

280’3" (85.3m)

Beam

67’2” (20.4m)

Draft

13’ 6” (4.1m)

Displacement

3,013 LTSW

Max Vehicles

53 Standard Vehicles

Max Passengers

300

Main Engines

2 ea. @ 3000 BHP Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD)

Propulsion Train and Bow Thruster

Rolls Royce CCP with Promas Rudders

Generators

2 main and 1 emergency, Caterpillar Model C-18

City Built

Ketchikan, Alaska