Nassco delivers 12th Navy cargo ship in T-AKE series
General Dynamics Nassco delivered USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) to the U.S. Navy during a signing ceremony on Sept. 28. Named in honor of William Burdette McLean (1914-1976), the U.S. Navy physicist who conceived and developed the heat-seeking Sidewinder missile, William McLean is the 12th ship delivered in the Navy’s 14-ship T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ship program in five years.
Nassco began constructing USNS William McLean in September 2009. William McLean will carry supplies and equipment required to support U.S. Marine Corps operations around the world.
Nassco has incorporated international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features into T-AKE-class ships to minimize operating costs during their projected 40-year service life. With a cargo capacity of more than 10,000 tons, the primary mission of T-AKE ships is to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions from shore stations to combat ships at sea. They have also served in Navy humanitarian efforts in Haiti, Pakistan and elsewhere.
Los Angeles port police order a patrol catamaran
All American Marine Inc. of Bellingham, Wash., has won a contract from the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Department for a new dive and patrol catamaran. The 65-by-24-foot aluminum catamaran will be used by the Los Angles port police dive team and will feature Teknicraft Design’s signature hull shape and hydrofoil technology. The design of the vessel is based upon the previously built R/V Shearwater and R/V Fulmar, which are operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in California’s four National Marine Sanctuaries.
“We specialize in the design and construction of custom vessels, but selling another sister ship is a nice testament to the quality of the vessels we construct,†said Joe Hudspeth, All American Marine's business development manager.
The new vessel will serve as a valuable asset to the port police for a wide variety of safety and security missions. One of the key functions of this multipurpose vessel is the ability to conduct oceanographic surveys within the port.
Lt. Michael Capodanno of the port police said, “We are really looking forward to receiving our new dive boat. It will serve as an integral part of securing America’s largest seaport, which helps to keep our country's economic engine running."
The vessel’s interior layout promises over 150 square feet of wet and dry working space, a fully equipped galley and comfortable dinette with u-shaped settee. The working deck layout will accommodate a hydraulically actuated A-frame, survey winch and dive platforms. The propulsion package features twin Cummins QSM-11 engines, each offering 705 hp at 2,500 rpm. Delivery for the vessel is scheduled for mid 2012.
Crowley christens the company's largest and fastest ATB
Crowley Maritime Corp. christened its largest and fastest articulated tug-barge (ATB), Legacy/750-1 on Nov. 3. The high-capacity tank barge is able to carry up to 330,000 barrels of petroleum products and the 16,000-hp tug can generate speeds of 15 knots or more. When coupled, the vessels measure 674 feet in length.
“This class of ATB is among the largest, safest and fastest in the trade,†said Crowley Chairman, President and CEO Tom Crowley. “We are raising the bar in terms of reliability, cargo flexibility and environmental friendliness through our industry-leading new-build program. And the investments we are making will serve the needs of our customers for many years to come.â€
“We are thrilled to take delivery of this state-of-the-art ATB and to be able to put her to work for Marathon Petroleum,†said Rob Grune, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager of petroleum services. “Our customers today expect nothing less than best available technology, safety and cost effectiveness when it comes to the design and operation of innovative new vessels to meet their transportation requirements. Not only will these vessels be able to carry 330,000-barrels of product safely, but we also expect them to do so quickly — at speeds of 15-plus knots."
Legacy/750-1 is the first of three U.S.-flag 750 class ATBs to be built for Crowley. Two more — Legend/750-2 and Liberty/750-3 — are currently under construction. Once completed, all three will be operated in the Jones Act U.S. coastwise trade by Crowley's petroleum services group.
These three new vessels will bring Crowley’s total ATB fleet to 17, including four 155,000-barrel and 10 185,000-barrel ATBs. Legacy/750-1 will be operated by Crowley for Marathon Petroleum under a long-term charter arrangement.
The 750-class barges are 45,000 deadweight tons, 600 feet in length, 105 feet 6 inches in breadth and 54 feet 3 inches in depth. The fully loaded draft is 35 feet.
750-1 was built by Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Miss., and Legacy was constructed by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Wash. Legend/750-2 and Liberty/750-3 are scheduled for delivery between the second half of 2011 and the first half of 2013.
Dutch firm designs solar hybrid supertanker
Deliverance, a new design from Sauter Design in the Netherlands, qualifies as the largest and by far the greenest post-Panamax vessel to be built. The design aims to make the vessel the most economical form of crude oil transport in the world.
To reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 75 percent, this superior fluid dynamic Emax supertanker obtains half of its power from LNG and the other half from the latest advances in solar and wind power technology.
Deliverance is a 2-million-barrel, 330,000-dwt vessel designed specifically for the newly enlarged locks of the Panama Canal, which will accommodate vessels with a length of up to 1,395 feet, a beam of up to 176 feet and a draft of up to 59 feet.
Being longer, narrower and having less draft than previous 2-million-barrel very large crude carriers (VLCC), the hull of Deliverance produces less drag, which, in conjunction with twin hybrid propulsion pods, reduces fuel consumption and emissions by 35 percent. An additional 20 to 30 percent reduction is achieved with 5.4 million square feet DynaWing boom furling sails. An additional 15 to 20 percent reduction comes from a Solbian solar power generating array. The realization of a 75 percent reduction is made possible by Mitsubishi's Bubble Hull and Wärtsilä's Coded LNG Hybrid power system.
Generally speaking, the total diesel engine power requirement for a conventional 330,000-dwt supertanker is 30 MWs. By comparison, the total power requirement for the 330,000-dwt Emax Solar Hybrid Supertanker is 20 MWs – 10 MWs from LNG and 10 MWs from the sun and wind.
Richard Sauter, head designer at Sauter Carbon Offset Design, said, "A solar hybrid post-Panamax VLCC presents us with a major win-win scenario, for apart from safeguarding the planet, oil companies can look forward to savings of up to 60 million dollars a year on the purchase of fuel, which at today's prices not only pays for the Emax Supertanker in under four years, but increases their earnings over her service life by over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars."
The cost of Deliverance is approximately 15 percent above the cost of a conventional 330,000-dwt supertanker.
Signet Stars & Stripes and Signet Constellation christened
Trinity Offshore and Signet Maritime recently christened M/V Signet Stars & Stripes and M/V Signet Constellation at the Trinity Shipyard in Gulfport, Miss.
Mrs. Gayle L. Wicker, wife of U.S. Sen. Roger F. Wicker, christened Signet Stars & Stripes. Mrs. Tara E. Hauhe, wife of William E. Hauhe, general manager of Angola LNG Supply Services, of Houston, christened Signet Constellation.
The technologically-advanced tugs are designed and engineered to offer superior shiphandling, escort, and sea-keeping performance and incorporate cutting-edge design.
Signet Constellation, Trinity hull TO-22, was launched on Sept. 7, and Signet Stars & Stripes, Trinity hull TO-23, marked its official launch on Oct. 12.
Both tugs are 100-foot RAstar 3100 class terminal support/escort tugs built for Signet Maritime’s U.S. Gulf of Mexico operations and will provide marine services to Angola LNG Supply Services in the Port of Pascagoula, Miss. The Robert Allan-designed ASD tugs are built to American Bureau of Shipping Maltese Cross A1 Towing & Escort Service, Fire Fighting Class 1 (Fi-Fi 1) and Maltese Cross AMS standards. The vessels will be operated under Signet Maritime’s ABS-certified International Safety Management and ISO 9001-2008 Quality Management Systems. In addition, these vessels are the first EPA Tier 3, EU Stage IIIA and IMO Marine Tier III vessels to be built and operated in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Canada’s newest ferry, Grand Manan Adventure, is back to work
The new 280-foot Grand Manan Adventure passenger/vehicle ferry has returned to Black’s Harbour, New Brunswick, after being dry-docked at a shipyard in Halifax, Nova Scotia, following an internal mechanical failure of one of the two 470-kW electric-motor-driven bow thrusters manufactured by Berg Propulsion of Sweden.
The ferry's builder, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, of Panama City, Fla., and Berg Propulsion, each sent representatives to Halifax to oversee the repairs and ensure the ferry's timely return back to service. Eastern and Berg took further precautions and preventative measures, which included opening up the second bow thruster for full inspection to ensure a similar problem would not occur.
Representatives from New Brunswick's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure were on hand to witness the repairs. “We are pleased with the cooperation shown by the Eastern Shipbuilding Group in addressing this issue. The new ferry will carry passengers between Grand Manan Island and the mainland in comfort and safety for many years to come,†said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams.
During the off season, Grand Manan Adventure will replace Grand Manan V, which has been in operation since 1990. The older ferry will be laid up until the opening of next season when both ferries will operate carrying residents and visitors back and forth from the mainland to Grand Manan Island.
Great Lakes Shipyard building workboat for Port of Milwaukee
At Great Lakes Shipyard, of Cleveland, Ohio, the laying of the keel marks the start of construction on a 60-foot workboat for the Port of Milwaukee. The city of Milwaukee awarded the contract in June 2011. The vessel is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
Designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants, of Seattle, the vessel’s capabilities will include general harbor work, icebreaking, salvage and dive operations. The stem and hull shape will be strengthened to optimize performance in ice. Powered by a single 405-hp Cummins QSK11 Tier II diesel engine, it will have a maximum speed of 10 knots.
Great Lakes Shipyard, a division of The Great Lakes Towing Co., operates a full service shipyard specializing in new construction, repairs, and modifications of all types of workboats and barges.
