Aluminum passenger ship Enhydra

The Enhydra is the newest member of the Red and White Fleet of San Francisco’s passenger excursion vessel fleet. The 128-foot LOA aluminum monohull vessel with a 30’ beam was designed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand, and built by All American Marine in Bellingham, WA. This is the largest lithium-ion battery electric hybrid- powered vessel in North America built under “USCG Subchapter K” certification. The propulsion integrator is BAE Systems. The 600-passenger vessel is specifically designed for harbor tours of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Guests on board the Enhydra can experience views of the bay and cityscape from all three decks, each complete with their own convenient snack bar. The second level offers a full, wrap-around viewing deck with access to the enlarged-bow foredeck. Entirely open, the top deck offers ample outdoor seating for those on board. In the initial development stage, the Red and White Fleet team pursued construction designs for steel monohulls for their new vessel; but All American Marine demonstrated considerable savings in building and maintenance costs with an aluminum design, while ensuring delivery of a robust hull structure. Founded in 1892 and one of the oldest businesses operating in the San Francisco Bay area, historic Red and White Fleet is committed to environmental sustainability and community education. The Enhydra will not only be more sustainable in fuel consumption, but it will also lessen impact on local marine life. When powering the vessel, the electric motors are noticeably quieter, resulting in less noise and vibration, and a significantly reduced environmental footprint overall.