Pacific Express I to Feature TRAKTOR Jet Propulsion

Washington shipbuilder Penn Cove Shellfish (DBA Everest Marine) has chosen Arkansas-based NAMJet to provide TRAKTOR Jet propulsion solutions for its newest oyster harvest vessel, Pacific Express I.

Custom-designed by Stew Everest for Coast Seafoods and operating in Grays Harbor, Washington, the TRAKTOR Jet -powered Pacific Express provides exceptional maneuverability and power in the shallow, windy working conditions common across the Pacific Northwest. Powered by a single 425-horsepower (hp) John Deere diesel, Pacific Express’ NAMJet TJ-610HT waterjet pushes the 64-foot, vessel to an impressive 15-knot top speed, while a Wesmar V-10 bowthruster helps the vessel to stay on track during harvest.

The boat features a stainless steel, hydraulic tilt-deck designed to allow one man to offload 40 tons of oysters in about 45 minutes. Two similar vessels, the Willapa Express and the W.E. Morris Express use the same tilt-deck system and are presently operated by Coast Seafoods in Willapa Bay, Washington.

Pacific Express was launched in April for sea trials out of La Conner, Washington. It was then hauled out and blocked, prepped and painted. Capt. Eric Daigneault of Penn Cove Shellfish delivered the vessel to Coast Seafoods in Markham, Washington on April 23rd, making the trip at 12.5 knots under 85% load with a top speed of 15.1 knots. Pacific Express is the first of a four-boat order by Coast Seafoods. Its first sister vessel, Pacific Express II, is slated for launch in September of this year, and Pacific Express III and IV will launch in 2014.

Pacific Express is the tenth vessel designed by Everest Marine for Coast Seafoods; all feature TRAKTOR® Jet waterjets and John Deere power in either single or dual configurations.

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Press Release, May 21, 2013