Catalina Flyer

The Catalina Flyer is a 500-passenger catamaran ferry operated by Catalina Passenger Service.

History
Name: Catalina Flyer (1988–present)
Operator: Catalina Passenger Service
Port of registry: Newport Beach,  US
Route: Newport Beach, CA - Avalon, CA
Builder: Nichols Bros. Boat Builders[1]
Launched: 1988[1]
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Length: 36 m (118 ft 1 in)[1]
Beam: 12.2 m (40 ft 0 in)[1]
Draught: 2.44 m (8 ft 0 in)[1]
Installed power: 2 × Caterpillar 3516 TA diesel engines[2]
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)[1]
Capacity: 500 passengers[2]

It has provided daily passenger service since 1988[3] from the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach, California to the city of Avalon located on Santa Catalina Island. Prior to 1988, the same run was served by the Island Holiday from the mid-1950s until 1978, and the Catalina Holiday from 1978 until 1988, both also operated by Catalina Passenger Service.[4]

The Catalina Flyer is the largest passenger-carrying catamaran on the West Coast of the United States[5][6] and at the time it was launched it was the largest in North America.[3] It carries an eight-person crew,[6] and features a sundeck, full-service lounges and large view windows.

The Catalina Flyer makes one round trip daily,[6] leaving Newport Beach for Avalon in the morning and returning from Avalon to Newport Beach in the early evening. It takes approximately 75 minutes for a one way trip. In addition to regular passenger service, the vessel is also available for private charter.

In the fall and winter of 2010–2011, the Flyer's service was temporarily suspended, in order to upgrade the ship's engines to meet the environmental requirements of California's Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation.[6]

See also
  • Catalina Express, a different ferry service to Catalina from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point

References
  1. Dr Robert Latorre "Bridging the Fast Ferry to U.S Market", accessed March 12, 2012
  2. Maritime Reporter, August 1988 "Outstanding shallow-draft passenger vessels", accessed March 12, 2012
  3. Mott, Patrick (August 5, 1988). "Double Hulls Get Boat to Avalon in Half the Time". Los Angeles Times.
  4. Pedersen, Jeannine L. (2006), Catalina by Sea: A Transportation History, Arcadia Publishing, p. 121, ISBN 978-0-7385-3116-8.
  5. "Zip over to Catalina Island for new adventures", Desert Sun, March 25, 2010.
  6. Ragan, Tom (September 7, 2010), "Catalina Flyer suspends service for upgrade: Catamaran will resume daily runs to Avalon in February", Los Angeles Times: AA5.


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