Palmer to Valdez Day 3 - Chenega

Here is a Picasa album with today's photos.

M/V Chenega

Builder: Derecktor Shipyards, Bridgeport, CT, USA
Type: Catamaran, High Speed Craft
Dimensions: Length 235 ft, Beam 60 ft, Draft 8 feet
Passengers: 250
Crew: 10
Vehicle Capacity: 35 large cars
Max Speed: 43 knots (50 mph)
Range: 500 nautical miles
Power: 4 MTU diesels total 19,200 horsepower
Propulsion: 4 Kamewa water-jets
Displacement: 787 long tons fully loaded
Fuel Capacity: 13,400 gallons
Cost: $ 36 million

I don't know if he was bulls**tting me, but one of the crew told me that with the jets reversed in a panic stop, this rig can come to a full stop in less than it's 235 ft length. That would be a site to see because I'm sure some serious water would be thrown around.

This was our ride from Valdez to Whittier. Mrs. Scintilla who usually barfs on sea-craft tolerates this ferry quite well. The trip was 2 hours and 45 minutes. Then it was a 7 minute trip through the longest auto tunnel in North America (2.5 miles) and we were then 40 miles from Anchorage and 90 miles from home. We picked up Daisy at the kennel and were on our doorstep by 1800. Thunder clouds (a rarity in Alaska) rolled in and the rain hit us within a half hour of being home. Our 54 hour mini discover Alaska trip was over. We only regret not making that trip sooner.