UPDATE
CHOUEST SHIPYARD FLOATS OUT VIKING MISSISSIPPI
VIKING CRUISES’ 386-GUEST VIKING MISSISSIPPI RIVER CRUISE vessel has been
floated out today at Edison Chouest Offshore’s LaShip shipyard in Houma, La. Set to debut in June 2022, the Jones Act compliant Viking Mississippi will sail Viking’s much-anticipated voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Paul. “It is a proud moment that this new ship has met an American waterway for the first time,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking. “Our guests have long wanted to sail the Mississippi River with Viking, and we very much
look forward to welcoming them on board this summer. We are grateful to our American partner, Edison Chouest Offshore, who has helped bring to life our vision of exploring the Mississippi in the ‘Viking way.’” Hosting 386 guests in 193 all outside staterooms, and offering multiple passenger amenities, the new state-of-the-art, fivedeck river cruise ship is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships and will feature elegant Scandinavian design, as well as public spaces that will be familiar to Viking guests but reimagined for Mississippi River voyages.
The Viking Mississippi is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system comprised of eight CAT C32 EPA Tier 4 diesel engines, each powering a 940 eKw water cooled generator; each engine/generator unit is individually mounted on a specially designed double raft isolation system that produces a remarkably quiet and smooth ride. Propulsion power is provided by Voith six-bladed propulsion thrusters driven by permanent magnet electric motors, as are the pump jet bow thrusters. An advanced exhaust gas scrubbing system will significantly reduce sound and emissions.
A PROJECT THAT WILL REPL ACE A 40 -YEAR-OLD DIESEL powered vessel
with a new all-electric ferry has marked another milestone. Washington State’s S kag it Count y reports that the state legislature has finalized its 2022 transportation appropriations package. Among other appropriations, the legislation provides $14 million for the allelectric Guemes Ferry Replacement project. This funding completes the financing for the project, according to the county. “This project is vital to residents of Guemes Island and has been a long time coming,” said Commissioner Peter Browning, who currently serves as Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “We’re incredibly excited to begin project construction.” 10 Marine Log // April 2022
The Guemes ferry replacement project will replace the current 40-year-old M/V Guemes with a new all-electric ferry, designed by Glosten. The ferry is expected to enter into full service by 2025. T h e n e w ve s s e l w i l l b e a d o u b l e ended vehicle and passenger ferry with a three-tiered deckhouse. The design accommodates four lanes of vehicles including highway-rated trucks and emergency vehicles. “The M/V Guemes is nearing the end of its useful life and we need to replace it imminently,” said Commissioner Ron Wesen. “To have such considerable support from the entirety of our legislative delegation not only to replace the boat, but to replace it with an all-electric vessel
is wonderful. We are truly blessed here in the Skagit.” Commissioner Lisa Janicki said, “The M/V Guemes operates 365 days a year and with funding from the Climate Commitment Act, we’ll pull those large diesel motors out of the Salish Sea and provide reliable transportation to Guemes Island.”
Photo Credit: (Top) Viking River Cruises ; (Bottom) Glosten
Skagit County All-Electric Ferry Project Now Fully Financed
