84.5′ Glacier & Wildlife Tour Sister Ships Built for Phillips Cruises

Chugach Express & North Star: Hydrofoil-Assisted Catamarans Built for Phillips Cruises & Tours

All American Marine built the M/V Chugach Express and M/V North Star for glacier and wildlife tours in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Designed by Teknicraft Design, both 84.5-foot aluminum catamarans carry up to 150 passengers and are built to U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter T standards. Chugach Express entered service out of Whittier in 2024. North Star, its longer-range sistership, was launched in 2026 and will also operate from Whittier.

Why Phillips Cruises & Tours returned to All American Marine

A tour boat earns an operator’s confidence over a season of full passenger loads, long days on the water, and changing sea conditions. Since entering service in 2024, Chugach Express has given Phillips Cruises & Tours firsthand experience with how an All American Marine build performs on its own routes in Prince William Sound.

When Phillips needed a second vessel, it returned to All American Marine and Teknicraft Design for a sistership. The repeat order gave the team a clear starting point. Phillips knew how the hull rode with passengers aboard and how it behaved when the boat slowed or stopped for viewing. All American Marine could build on that operating experience and focus the second build on a specific gain for Phillips: more range.

How the hydrofoil improves the ride

A Prince William Sound tour asks different things of a vessel over the course of a day. On the run out of Whittier, the boat needs to carry a full passenger load at cruising speed. At a glacier or wildlife sighting, guests need a steady platform for viewing.

On both vessels, Teknicraft’s dynamic hydrofoil generates lift underway, reducing hull resistance and the power needed to maintain speed. The semi-displacement hull and wave-piercing bow help soften the ride in chop. When the vessel stops for viewing, the hull and foil help dampen motion at rest.

Performance from transit to glacier viewing

A Prince William Sound tour asks different things of a vessel over the course of a day. On the run out of Whittier, the boat needs to carry a full passenger load at cruising speed. At a glacier or wildlife sighting, it needs to give guests a steady platform to watch from.

On both vessels, Teknicraft’s dynamic hydrofoil generates lift underway, reducing hull resistance and the power needed to maintain speed. The semi-displacement hull and wave-piercing bow help limit the motion passengers feel in chop. When the vessel stops for viewing, the hull and foil help dampen motion at rest. That combination supports passenger comfort on the way out, at the viewing site, and on the return to Whittier.

How Chugach Express informed North Star’s longer range

Operating experience with Chugach Express showed that the hull could carry additional fuel weight while preserving speed, efficiency, and ride quality. All American Marine used that capacity to increase fuel storage from 1,200 gallons on Chugach Express to 1,600 gallons on North Star, extending the sistership’s operating range.

The team added those 400 gallons, a 33% increase in fuel capacity, using the same hull design and propulsion package. For Phillips, the second build brought together a platform its crews already knew, a builder it had worked with before, and a practical improvement drawn from service in Prince William Sound.

Passenger spaces for glacier and wildlife viewing

Both vessels offer enclosed seating across two decks, outdoor viewing areas, and a wheelchair-accessible main deck. Guests can watch the scenery from inside or step onto an open deck for a closer view when the vessel pauses near a glacier or wildlife sighting.

Planning a passenger vessel for your operation? Talk with All American Marine about a catamaran designed around your route, passenger capacity, and operating conditions.