b'FOGHORNFOCUS: SHIPBUILDINGIs Carbon Fiber in Our Future?By JB Turner, Arcadia Alliance/Front Street ShipyardW hen building a vessel there a countless decisions to be made. One of theIn Norway, the 138-foot-long Future first ones is, what material to use? Since the mid-19th century, metalof the Fjords glides daily through the has been used to construct vessels, replacing wood that had been fornarrow valleys of a fjord. The vessels millennia, because metalsiron, steel, and aluminumoffer a number of benefitsunusual superstructure zigzags from that are advantageous for waterborne transit.Just because metal vessels comprisethe top deck to the bottom, giving it the vast majority of passenger vessels on Americas waterways today does nota profile reminiscent of the regions mean that we shouldnt continue to look at other materials that may better suitmountainous landscape. A wake of 16 our industry tomorrow. Carbon fiber is one option. knots along the 20-mile route through a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site follows this pioneering vessel.Future of the Fjords daily journeys are among the most scenic in the world. Silent engine and systems pay tribute to the peace and stillness of the natural environment. Often the only sounds emanating from the ferry are the ENGINEERING SERVICES camera clicks and astonished murmurs of 400 sightseeing passengers taking in the surrounding site. Future of the Fjords is a zero-emis-sion passenger vessel, launched in early 2018. This engineering accom-plishment became possible through a GOVERNMENT AND PROJECT series of technological leaps in recent MILITARY SERVICES SERVICES years including electric engines and lithium-ion battery technology. The most critical piece of technology that To bring Crowley on board for your next project, contact us at 206.332.8090 ormade this futuristic ferry a reality visit our website at crowley.com. today is actually a decades-old building material. Carbon fiber provides the 14 APRIL 2019FOGHORN'