[ italian import ]
Jeff Brown Yachts Becomes West Coast Dealer for Riva
By Randy Woods / Photo Courtesy of Riva Yachts & Jeff Brown Yachts
Legendary Italian luxury yacht builder Riva Yachts has signed Jeff Brown Yachts to be its exclusive dealer on the West Coast. The September agreement stipulates that Jeff Brown Yachts will handle all distribution, sales, and services for all Riva yachts being sold in Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii.
Simone Meletti, managing director of Riva’s owner, Ferretti Group Americas, said he met Brown a few years ago at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and began to discuss a business partnership. “Jeff shares our same commitment and vision for Riva,” Meletti said. “I’m confident Jeff Brown Yachts will be a leading player for Ferretti Group.”
Brown praised Riva as a “storied brand” that he’d admired his whole life and described the opportunity to have exclusive representation as “truly a privilege.”
Under the agreement, Jeff Brown Yachts, with more than 30 years of experience in the business, will begin offering services for Riva at it consolidated network of offices in Seattle; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina; and three locations in California (San Diego, Newport Beach, and Sausalito).
It’s been a busy year for Riva, so far, as it has introduced several new luxury yacht models, including six debuts at the Genoa International Boat Show and the Cannes Yachting Festival in September. These include the Pershing GTX80, the Infynito 80, the Custom Line Navetta 38, the Ferretti 670, and the wallywhy100 (created by Wally-Ferretti Group Engineering) coupe.
Riva also announced in September that it would begin construction of its Riva 70Metri, a 230-foot hybrid-propulsion superyacht that will become the largest flagship in the company’s history. Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi added that Riva “will be launching 25 new models by the end of 2026.”
Riva has been in the yacht building business for more than 180 years, opening its first shipyard in 1842 on Lake Iseo in Italy. Today, it operates three Italian shipyards in Sarnico, La Spezia, and Ancona, where it operates an 860,000-square-foot superyacht facility.
For more details on the new partnership, and for a full list of the models currently available via Jeff Brown Yachts, go to: jeffbrownyachts.com/brands/riva-yachts.
[ ferry of the future ]
Kitsap Transit Grant Brings New Hydrofoil Ferry Closer to Reality
By Randy Woods / Rendering Courtesy of Glosten & Bieker Boats
The familiar sight of the lumbering green-and-white Vigor ferry boats crisscrossing Puget Sound for the Washington State Ferries system may get a head-turning new sailing rival in the next few years. Kitsap Transit recently received funding for an exciting new electric hydrofoil fast ferry prototype that would cover the Seattle-to-Bremerton route.
In September, Kitsap Transit received a $5.2 million grant to develop an all-electric hydrofoil vessel to be designed by Seattle naval architecture firm Glosten and built by Anacortes-based Bieker Boats. The locally based Glosten/Bieker collaboration on the fast-ferry project is known as Foil Ferry, LLC.
Of the $5.2 million in funding, the Washington State Department of Commerce will give Kitsap Transit $1.2 million for the design of a demonstration vessel and ferry dock upgrades. The remaining $4 million for the project will come in January 2025 from a state legislature grant, provided it is not repealed under Initiative 2117, which will be on the November ballot.
Once completed, the hydrofoil vessel will look like nothing else currently on the working waterfronts of Puget Sound. In current, early design drawings from Glosten, the full-sized vessel would be about 90 feet long, with a 25-foot beam, capable of carrying 150 passengers. The planned hull design would be a catamaran configuration equipped with a single midship hydrofoil extending abeam and two 500 kilowatt, zero-emission electric pod drives aft.
At its 30-knot cruising speed, the entire vessel is designed to rise several feet above the surface, decreasing its draft from 12 to about 5 feet, and can operate for 30 nautical miles on a single charge—more than enough power to cover a round-trip between Seattle and Bremerton. The last time the Bremerton-Seattle route saw anything this unusual was likely the old Art Deco, streamlined Kalakala ferry that plied the waters of Rich Passage from 1935 to 1967.
“This is a reliable, ultra-efficient, low-wake vessel designed to be better for passengers and the environment,” said Paul Bieker, a partner at Bieker Boats. “We achieved this by combining hydrofoil technology developed in the America’s Cup with lightweight carbon-fiber composite construction and modern zero-emissions propulsion equipment.”
According to Washington Maritime Blue, a nonprofit strategic alliance that led the development of the Foil Ferry business model, the project “offers a safe, reliable, and cost–effective option while minimizing the environmental impact on air, water quality, and marine life compared to traditional diesel-powered alternatives.”
In recent environmental impact study conclusions, WA Maritime Blue added that the electric hydrofoil concept for the Bremerton-Seattle route can reduce annual operating costs by 35% when compared to the diesel “fast ferry” boats currently being used. Another study from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) found that the Foil Ferry would reduce net carbon-dioxide emissions on the same route by 74%.
“Not only is our design feasible — it is actionable,” said Lisa Renehan, managing director of Foil Ferry, LLC. “Now that Foil Ferry has this funding, we have the chance to demonstrate how hydrofoil vessels could one day transport commuters crossing the Puget Sound and replace conventional diesel-fueled fast ferries.”
In its next steps, Kitsap Transit said it is working to secure an additional $18.5 million in near-term federal grant funding to help Foil Ferry build a 1:5-scale prototype of the hydrofoil vessel. The prototype would be used to test the vessel’s controls, foil shape and position, dynamic stability, propulsion system, and safety features before a full-sized vessel can be built.
The Foil Ferry project also incorporates numerous collision safeguards, including a novel automated object detection system to reduce the risk of collisions. The full-sized ferry will feature passenger amenities, including bicycle storage inside the cabin. In addition to providing a smoother ride, the ferry will have an extremely low wake and quieter operation above and below the waterline. It’s expected performance is likely to assuage nearby residents’ complaints about erosion from wakes on the Rich Passage shoreline, as well as reduce noise impacts within Puget Sound’s endangered marine mammal habitats.
“We will need federal funding in order to build the Foil Ferry and bring this vision of zero-emission ferry travel to fruition,” said John Clauson, executive director of Kitsap Transit. “We look forward to the design and construction of this demonstration vessel and hope it will spur excitement at the federal level to support this type of innovation in maritime transport.”
To keep abreast of the progress being made on this project, go to: kitsaptransit.com/electric-fast-foil-ferry.
[ class in session ]
WorkBoat West, Maritime Blue Sessions Added to Pacific Marine Expo Schedule
By Randy Woods
Coming up this month, the annual Pacific Marine Expo for industry professionals will arrive in Seattle with a new a decidedly “blue” twist, as the show partners with the Washington Maritime Blue consortium and the brand-new WorkBoat West educational program.
From November 20-22, the three-day Expo, which will take place in the East and West Halls of the Lumen Field Event Center, will feature hundreds of equipment exhibitors from the Pacific Northwest and other West Coast locations, several informative educational seminars, and networking opportunities within the industry. The Pacific Marine Expo is the largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast.
While the annual Expo is generally geared toward marine industry professionals, some free seminars being offered through the new WorkBoat West program may have some appeal to the general recreational boating community, as well.
For instance, on Thursday, November 21, WorkBoat West will offer a session on Quiet Sound, a collaborative program to reduce acoustic impacts on the Southern Resident orca whale population, providing updates on the active voluntary commercial vessel slowdowns in Puget Sound, and efforts to monitor excessive marine noise. Another Thursday session will look into the potential development of a sustainable maritime fuels program for the Pacific Northwest.
WorkBoat West will also include several Blue Venture Startup Pitches throughout the day on Thursday, showcasing the latest innovative commercial ideas being shopped around in the maritime, fisheries, and ocean sectors. The pitch sessions are part of WA Maritime Blue’s venture programs activities to support both local startups and global entrepreneurs seeking development help, new customers, and access to capital.
Other WorkBoat West sessions to be held during the Expo will focus on topics such as the improving the performance of diesel engines, making the switch from diesel to electric propulsion, “de-carbonizing” the fishing industry, the development of the Youth Maritime Career Launch paid internship program, and the latest news about the Blue Wind program to create an offshore wind-power generation project.
The conference will also feature an “Alaska Hall” that includes only Alaska-based exhibitors, showcasing locally made products and services. Special events at the Expo also include daily free happy hours, the King County Maritime Economic Forecast Breakfast, access to the Fishermen’s Lounge, the National Fisherman Highliner Awards presentation, and performances by Fisher Poets, Coastal Challenge, and more.
The Pacific Marine Expo will conclude on Friday, November 22, with a State of the Blue panel discussion among venture capitalists, industry reps, government officials, and philanthropists about the future of the “blue economy.” Topics will include Maritime Blue’s Innovation Cluster Strategy, highlights of its active projects and initiatives, and the latest marine sector trends.
Attendees at this year’s event will include commercial fishers, vessel owner/operators, shipyard workers, marine engineers and architects, charter captains and operators, seafood processors, port officials, harbormasters, marina operators, marine surveyors, and military buyers. Exhibitors expected to attend include companies involved in boat building/repair, fishing gear, electronics and navigation, deck equipment, safety/survival gear, propulsion, marine communication, and fish-finding electronics. All WorkBoat West sessions will be included in attendees’ Pacific Marine Expo pass. For information on hours, locations, and registration for the conference, please visit pacificmarineexpo.com.
[ at your service ]
Northern Marine Launches Refit Division in Anacortes
By Randy Woods / Photo Courtesy of Northern Marine
Anacortes-based yacht builder Northern Marine launched its new vessel refit division in October that is dedicated to servicing its own brand of vessels, as well as similarly sized yachts.
The strategic expansion was created to provide comprehensive care for its fleet, the company said, based on its expertise in servicing yachts measuring roughly 50 to 80 feet in length. By focusing its new refitting business on models similar to what it builds, Northern Marine can give its customers peace of mind should they want to make changes to their vessels.
“If boaters generally like their yacht but wish it had updated systems or a modernized interior, a refit performed by Northern Marine will achieve that,” said Peter Whiting, managing partner of Northern Marine’s parent company, Seattle Yachts.
This expansion will enable Northern Marine to offer complete refit services, including structural repairs and modifications; systems upgrades and replacements; interior refurbishments; exterior refinishing; performance enhancements; and repowering. The company’s new refit division will operate from its existing Anacortes shipyard.
“We want to give the customers of Northern Marine a home to come back to,” said Linn Jennings, director of manufacturing for Seattle Yachts. “We’re the people that built their boat, and we have the facilities that can accommodate boats of that size and beyond.”
Northern Marine was founded in 1995, building custom luxury yachts and expedition-style vessels, and pioneering in the development of resin-infusion and other vacuum-assisted construction methods. The builder specializes in long-range cruisers and trawler-style yachts ranging from 57 to 100 feet in length, creating seven distinct pilothouse and tri-deck product lines. The company was acquired by Seattle Yachts on 2019.
For more information on the new services, visit either: northernmarine.com.
