To accommodate a new vessel being constructed, and to provide a more efficient passenger and freight handling operation at both the three-berth Hyannis Terminal and the single berth Nantucket Terminal, Hy-Line Cruises contracted GEI to develop designs to meet their goals for these operations.

Hy-Line operates high-speed and conventional passenger vessels between Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, providing daily commuter passenger service as well as excursions. GEI’s efforts included an initial investigation and development of vessel design criteria to be incorporated into the new design, including identification of all vessels utilizing the new facilities, determination of load points and associated freeboards berthing, and the accommodation required vessel services including water, sewer, and power. During the planning phase, GEI developed numerous alternative layouts in order to define site constraints and minimize upland impacts to achieve ADA and MAAB compliance.

Based on the agreed upon concepts, GEI designed a new two level 140- by 24-foot plaza barge, a new 40- by 20-foot bow loader barge, along with the necessary aluminum ramping and platforms to allow loading at vessel bows and side loading at two different levels at the Hyannis Terminal. In Nantucket, due to the lack of watersheet, mechanical systems have been designed to accommodate vessel height changes due to tide conditions and vessel loading. This has included three different loading points with the primary location meeting ADA requirements for three separate vessels.

GEI was responsible for all phases of the project including initial planning and layout, design of steel barges and aluminum passenger access systems, obtainment of regulatory approvals, development of final design and preparation of contract documents. Due to the nature of the work, the project was split into six different contracts for supply of components and on-site construction.