MS intros new passenger vessels

JEANERETTE, La. – Louisiana shipbuilder Metal Shark (MS) partnered with the hull-designer Incat Crowther, which has U.S. offices in Lafayette, La., to develop a new line of passenger vessels that it introduced at the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) Maritrends Conference in Savannah, Ga. The new “Endurance PV-X” lineup includes both 150- and 350-passenger models. The PV-X is a welded-aluminum, high-speed, low-wake, catamarans that have been optimized for comfort, safety, and operational efficiency. The vessels are derived from Metal Shark’s latest military patrol boat designs. In 2017, Metal Shark delivered eight 150-passenger vessels on time. The new Endurance PV-X models are intended to allow the company to deliver them even faster. MS is tentatively scheduled to deliver nine passenger vessels in 2018. There are several already under construction at its Franklin La., shipyard for markets that include New York, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. (Source: Metal Shark 02/09/18)