Preserving Maritime History

Available for scientific research charters and to support underfunded scientists
• Herring, Salmon, Cod, Crab Tender • Oceanographic Research Charters • Seabird viewing and research Charters • Ham Radio to remote area charters • Transoceanic Race Vessel Tender • Forestry research and timber recovery • Salvage, assistance towing, firefighting & oil spill response • Deep sea exploration, autonomous vehicle and drone aircraft support • Kayak support vessel in remote areas • Platform and base for remote area documentary films
The mission of Aleutian Express Inc is diverse but the primary focus is fish tender operations for Herring, Salmon and Cod fisheries throughout Alaska and as a Cod catcher vessel using pot/trap gear in the Kodiak area. key points of effort in the post fishing season is to provide a safe working platform for scientists, researchers and explorers while preserving an Icon of the Pacific Northwest Maritime Legacy (The Historic vessel ALEUTIAN EXPRESS). Currently there is no federal funding for the preservation of Historic Vessels, even though a 1966 Presidential order established the funding for this cause to come from ship scrapping operations (which rarely exist in the US). All of the funding for restoration, preservation and conversion to post fishing season Oceanographic Research has been provided by the Company founder John Clutter and sustained by ship operations. By participating in the support of these fisheries (which is a vital part of the US economy) the ALEUTIAN EXPRESS is also a fit and ready vessel in the US Merchant Marine fleet, as it was in WWII on the North Pacific and Aleutians and grandfathered as an Aleutian Trade Act vessel. The future plans for the vessel are to continue being active in Alaska fisheries and available for research charters anywhere within the Pacific Rim, while acting as a response vessel in remote areas equipped to handle port or vessel firefighting, oil spill response and salvage operations which may involve removing grounded vessels from remote beaches, and beach cleanup operations as well as coral research and SCUBA dive support. Searching for undiscovered WWII shipwrecks and aircraft or monitoring ordinance and weapons dump sites are within the capabilities of the ALEUTIAN EXPRESS. Supporting marine mammal and seabird research and as a tender for underwater Remotely Operated (R.O.V) or Autonomous Vehicles (A.V.) and Drone Aircraft support are within the capability scope of the vessel.
Approaching Aniakchak National Monument "Elephant Head" July 2011
Chignik Lagoon September 2011
Devil's Bay, Alaska Peninsula August 2011
8-2006 near Old Harbor Kodiak

Vessel Machinery:

Main Propulsion: Twin marinized Turbo/ aftercooled 855 Cummins Big Cam 400's (400hp each) Reduction/ Reverse Gears: Capitol HP 28,000 4.5/1 Auxiliaries: (All Diesel powered): Two 671 GMC with Lima 60kw generators, One 371 GMC with Kato 30kw Generator, One Kholer 12kw generator, One Kubota/Miller Big blue 10kw Generator/Welder

The Express was repowered in June 2014 with twin 855 Cummins Big Cam turbo and aftercooled 400 hp diesel engines which replaced the 1710 V-12 Cummins 525hp naturally aspirated engines (eliminating 12 cylinders, thus reducing fuel consumption and more efficiently burning of diesel fuel to reduce carbon emissions).



Twin 6" x21' Stainless steel shafts. Propellers are 58"x40" three bladed bronze (New 2018)

A original center rudder was rebuilt in 2018 and Twin 7" stainless steel shafts support the 2 hanging rudders Duramax and Durablue Thrust and rudder bearings



Air Compressors: Two Quincy model 325 Supplying 850 gallon air tank



Refrigerated Seawater System: 404-A refrigerant

30-ton System Grahm Compressor driven with 40hp, 240v motor

Paco 3" Pump driven with 5hp Leeson 240v motor

Paco 2"Condensor pump with 3 hp Baldor 240v motor



20-ton system Carrier driven with 30hp Leeson 240hp motor. Paco 3" pump for circulation and 2" Flow-Max condenser Pump. Circulation piping is 3" Schedule 40 316-L Stainless Steel (2018).

Rowe Stern drag Winch

Diesel capacity: 23,500 gallons in 4 tanks (2 main and 2 daytanks).

Water: 9,500 gallons (bow and stern tanks)

Freshwater ballast bottom tank: 4,000 Gallons

Hydraulic oil: 300 gallons in 4 tanks

Lube oil tank: 200 gallons

Waste oil tank: 300 gallons

Blackwater waste holding tank: 60 gallons





LiDAR scan of the ALEUTIAN EXPRESS by Snow & Company at Port Townsend, Washington November 2022
October 2008 Kodiak to Port Orchard