Island Boats Builds Two New Vessels
• Island Boats builds 34.76 meter Dinner Cruise Vessel for Biscayne Lady Cruises in Miami, FL
Following a detailed review and tender process early last year, Southern Louisiana shipbuilder Island Boats was awarded the contract for the design and construction of a 130’ Dinner Cruise Vessel for Biscayne Lady Cruises.
The vessel was delivered in March of 2007 and is now in service in Miami, FL. The 34.76 meter vessel, Venetian Lady, is being built to United States Coast Guard Subchapter T requirements. With a waterline length of 34.76 meters, it measures 8.83 meters in the beam, has a depth of 3.10 meters, a 1.2 meter draft and displace 150 tonnes estimated lightship.
One of the vessels extravagant features is its ability to offer luxury dinner service on the main deck, a dance floor, bar, and lounge area on the second deck, and an open air seating on the upper sky deck.
The vessel is powered by two C-18 Caterpillar diesel engines driving Twin Disc Quickshift gearboxes to a pair of fire bladed propellers. Auxiliary power is from a pair of Caterpillar 250KW generators. The vessel has a maximum speed of 14 knots and cruise at 12 knots. The vessel is operated by a crew of approximately 16 and can carry up to 149 passengers.
Island Queen Cruises and Biscayne Lady Charters are a family owned business that has been doing private yacht charters and harbor cruises for more than forty years in beautiful, calm waters of South Florida. Their fleets of boats are located in the heart of downtown Miami, at Bayside Marketplace where they have daily harbor cruises. They also specialize in private yacht charters such as weddings, corporate functions, birthdays, etc. fully catered for 2-400 passengers.
• Ocean Discover 22 meter catamaran whale watcher/dinner cruise for Pacific Whale Foundation
Island Boats, Jeanerette, LA., continues to receive steady orders for its large aluminum catamarans. This contract is for a whale watcher/dinner cruise boat for Pacific Whale Foundation in Maui, Hawaii.
The vessel is a 22 meter long catamaran accommodating 149 passengers at a max speed of 26 knots. The main deck provides stair access to two swim decks. It is equipped with two 48” gas grills. The main deck also provides 11 bench seats, 20 open air seats, and 60 cabin seats for dining. The top deck has a service bar and open air dining for 60. It also has 12 bench seats. The vessel provides excellent viewing positions allowing passengers to take in the impressive scenery that Maui, Hawaii has to offer.
The vessel is powered by twin Cummins Diesel KTA-19M4, each producing 700 Hp and driven through Twin Disc “Quickshift” gearboxes to twin propellers.
Additional features include rudders made from soft composite material to protect marine mammals from collision. A protection device made from soft composite material was installed in front of the propeller for additional shielding.
Pacific Whale Foundation inspires and promotes appreciation, understanding, and protection of whales, dolphins, coral reefs, and the planet’s oceans. The founder of Pacific Whale Foundation, Greg Kaufman’s dream was to save the whales from extinction. In 1980, the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation was founded. One of their profits comes from marine eco-tours. The tours serve as a means of public education. The foundation uses alternative bio-diesel fuel in their vessels.