JMS Naval Architects acquires Roger Long Marine Architects
JMS Naval Architects and Engineers, of Mystic, Conn., announced the acquisition of Roger Long Marine Architects, Inc., also of Mystic. Roger Long is the nation's leading designer of coastal oceanographic vessels and has been involved in the design of research vessels of all sizes since 1973. He will be bringing his experience in the field to JMS as a consultant. JMS will be continuing the development of the highly successful Challenger class of coastal oceanographic vessels. More of these craft are active in the U.S. oceanographic fleet than those of any other designer.
The acquisition gives JMS exclusive rights to RLMA's Challenger–class fast research vessels. JMS and Roger Long have collaborated on several projects in the past and look forward to merging their resources and expanding the Challenger class vessels to new markets.
Gulf Challenger was designed and built in 1993 for the University of New Hampshire and demonstrated that a small, fast research vessel can offer slow-speed efficiency and comfort equal to or better than heavier-displacement vessels. Challenger–class vessels in service today include Fay Slover and Tioga, owned by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and most recently the 81-foot Rachel Carson, launched in 2008 and owned by the University of Maryland.
Crowley's ATB Vision ready to deliver petroleum products on the West Coast
Crowley Maritime Corp.'s Vision/650-10, the last of 10 articulated tug-barges (ATBs) in the 650-series newbuild program, has been delivered by VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Miss. The ATB is now ready to enter service and will transport petroleum products between U.S. West Coast ports. Vision/650-10, which has a capacity of 185,000 barrels, will be operated by Crowley's petroleum services group and will carry petroleum products. It incorporates many unique features, including a fixed-tank cleaning system, complete cargo heating system and the ability to carry EZ chemicals.
The 650–class barges are 27,000-dwt, 587 feet in length, 74 feet in breadth and 40 feet in depth. When coupled for operation, the tug and tank vessel measure 689 feet. The fully loaded draft is 30 feet. The new ATBs feature the latest systems technology and double-hull construction for maximum safety and reliability. Barge 650-10, like its sister vessels (650-1 through 650-9), is also certified by ABS to comply with the IMO Green Passport program. All of Crowley's ATBs are built under the ABS SafeHull program for environmental protection. Crowley already has nine 650–class ATBs capable of carrying 185,000 barrels and four 550-class ATBs capable of carrying 155,000 barrels. These are Jones Act vessels, built in the United States and crewed and owned by U.S. citizens. Three larger Jones Act ATBs, the 750 class, with a capacity of 330,000 barrels each, are under construction. The first is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2011.
BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards to build trailing suction hopper dredge for Weeks Marine
BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama has been selected by Weeks Marine Inc. to build an 8,500-cubic-yard capacity twin-screw trailing suction hopper dredge at its Mobile facility. The vessel will be 356 feet long and 79 feet wide with a draft of 27 feet. Weeks Marine, which has its dredging headquarters in Covington, La., is one of the largest providers of dredging services in the United States.
This will be a state-of-the art trailing suction hopper dredge and the first designed by IHC Merwede to be built in the United States. IHC Merwede, located in the Netherlands, is a world leader in the design and construction of dredging equipment.
Gibbs & Cox, one of the nation's leading independent naval architecture and engineering firms, will provide functional engineering and detailed production support during dredge construction. Delivery is scheduled for January 2014.
MarAd announces $9.98 million in grants to small shipyards
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $9.98 million in grants to 13 small shipyards throughout the United States to help modernize facilities, increase productivity and help make the country's small shipyards more competitive in the global marketplace. The facilities vary in size, from family-owned businesses employing a few dozen workers to state-of-the-art facilities with hundreds of employees.
"These grants will help improve our ability to build and repair ships in the United States, strengthening our economy and helping position these small businesses and shipyard workers to be better prepared to win the future," said LaHood.
The U.S Maritime Administration's (MarAd) Small Shipyard Grants Program provides money to help this vital segment of America's maritime industry invest in production equipment, provide technical skills training for employees and maintain and create well-paying jobs by keeping these businesses competitive.
"This money will help train workers and buy new tools and equipment," said U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. "Having these essential needs taken care of will help these small shipyards be more productive, efficient, and able to sustain good jobs for American workers well into the future."
The awards:
Alaska Ship and Drydock, Inc. – Ketchikan Shipyard (Ketchikan, Alaska) – $1,018,314.75 for a one-side welder, a material handling system and a CNC cutting system.
BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama, LLC (Mobile, Ala.) – $1,008,838 for a steel profile processing system.
Bay Ship & Yacht Co. (Alameda, Calif.) – $405,789 for an air compressor and electrical upgrades.
Brownsville Marine Products, LLC (Brownsville, Pa.) – $877,940.25 for an automated blast and coat system.
C&C Marine Maintenance – Congo Shipyard (Newell, W.Va.) – $1,232,135 for a new dry dock.
Hendry Corporation (Tampa, Fla.) – $1,000,000 for a new dry dock.
Ice Floe, LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (Freeland, Wash.) – $519,761 for 25-ton and 40-ton mobile cranes.
Jamesbuilt, LLC (Calvert City, Ky.) – $882,150 for a one-side panel welding system.
Marinette Marine Corp. (Marinette, Wisc.) – $604,394 for a dust collection system and air compressors.
MBLH Marine, LLC dba Vessel Repair (Port Arthur, Texas) – $525,000 for a 20-ton tower crane.
Senesco Marine, LLC (North Kingstown, R.I.) – $279,677 for launch equipment and software.
Southwest Shipyard, LP (Channelview, Texas) – $664,325 for a stiffener welding system.
Yank Marine, Inc. (Tuckahoe, N.J.) – $961,676 for a 300-ton Marine Travelift.
Kvichak Marine delivers three Bridge Erection Boat prototypes to the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command
Seattle-based Kvichak was chosen along with two other companies to construct prototype boats. All are currently undergoing extensive testing and evaluations at the Army Test Center in Aberdeen, Md. The testing process will last for up to 270 days.
The Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) intends to award a contract for a fleet of approximately 440 Bridge Erection Boats to replace its existing fleet. The contract is expected to be awarded in 2012.
"Kvichak Marine has offered a technologically advanced boat meeting TACOM's objectives for evaluation and testing which we feel offers the best value solution," said Tim Kolb of Kvichak. "Once evaluations and testing are completed, Kvichak looks forward to competing for the final production contract."
Bay Shipbuilding awards Siemens propulsion system order for two large vessels
Siemens Industry, Inc. announced it has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to equip two platform supply vessels (PSVs) with its unique diesel-electric propulsion solution at Fincantieri Marine Group's Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. A Tidewater Inc. subsidiary will construct the vessels.
The two deepwater PSVs will be outfitted with Siemens Blue multi-drive low-voltage propulsion system, which improves reliability due to failsafe features that will help the vessel owner lower maintenance costs, and increase efficiency and operational ease for the vessel and crew. The ships' advanced design will also decrease fuel consumption, resulting in reduced emissions of harmful greenhouse gases.
Siemens will provide the main generators, main propulsion and thruster motors, switchboards, power management system and its IMAC Automation system for alarm, monitoring and control functions, in addition to a unique, fully integrated Siemens electrical FiFi-2 system. As part of a Sole Source Vendor solution, Siemens is also responsible for the designing, engineering, commissioning and project management of the diesel electric and automation system.
Certified by the American Bureau of Shipping, each PSV will be 303 feet and 62 feet wide. Both will be capable of speeds of more than 14 knots and are designed to carry a variety of cargoes, including large quantities of fuel, water, drilling fluids and dry bulk in below-deck tanks, while simultaneously transporting casing, drill pipes and containers on open decks.
The vessels are slated for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013.
