Pacific Northwest ferry and excursion vessel operator FRS Clipper Inc., Seattle, announced it has ordered a new whale watching boat for scheduled delivery next year.
The 103.4'x32' high-speed aluminum catamaran was designed by One2Three Naval Architects, Sydney, Australia, and it will be built by Mavrik Marine Inc., La Conner, Wash. The USCG Subchapter T vessel will have capacity for up to 150 passengers plus a crew of four to eight.
“Our current vessel, the much beloved San Juan Clipper, is nearing retirement and needed a replacement,” FRS Clipper CEO Mark Collins told WorkBoat. “The new vessel will replace the SJC in May 2026, making two round trips per day during prime times.”
FRS Clipper, backed by global ferry operator FRS Group of Germany, runs naturalists-led wildlife and whale watching tours from Seattle’s Pier 69. When designing the new vessel, “protection of the environment and wildlife were our foremost concerns,” said Collins.
“We are getting a vessel that enables people to enjoy the beauty of Puget Sound with the minimum possible footprint,” said Collins. “Its quiet, low-emission, and low-wake design will bring guests near to nature with minimal intrusion on the cleanliness and health of our waters. It is the perfect platform for our dedicated naturalists to educate and engage guests in the wonders of Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.”
The yet-to-be-named boat will be powered by quad Scania DI16-082M Tier 3 diesels, each producing 800 bhp at 2,100 rpm. The engines will power HamiltonJet HTX42 waterjets through ZF 655 SC gearboxes.
This propulsion setup will help the new boat achieve FRS Clipper’s desired speed and fuel efficiency with the ability to quickly respond to reported whale sightings, said Collins. The boat will cruise at 32 knots, and it will have a range of 340 nautical miles — enough to reach the full length of Puget Sound and the Juan de Fuca Strait.
Special consideration was also given to onboard comfort and the passenger experience, said Collins. “The new vessel is quiet and comfortable inside and out. The interior features inviting seating, air conditioning, entertainment systems, and an expansive galley and giftshop offering hot food, snacks, beverages, bar service, and mementos,” he said.
Floor-to-ceiling windows will provide nearly 360° views from the boat’s interior, while the exterior will feature two broad upper viewing decks with covered, wind protected seating and great views from the full walkaround deck. “We gave a lot of thought to sightlines from the interior so all guests will have great viewing experiences,” said Collins.
“When asked to develop a vessel that met the customer service standards laid out by operator FRS Clipper, we relied on our past experience and proven results to design this new vessel,” Bailey Shewchuk, president of Mavrik Marine, said in a statement. “Clipper was very specific about their service standards and experience they will deliver to their guests, and Mavrik is committed to building the finest quality boat to meet those goals.”
