Harvey Gulf signs long-term charters for three new LNG OSVs
Harvey Gulf International Marine announced on Aug. 14 that it has signed long-term charters for three of its LNG-powered offshore supply vessels, making Harvey Gulf the first company to build and contract LNG-powered OSVs.
Harvey Energy, Harvey Power and Harvey Liberty will begin providing deepwater OSV services upon delivery in 2013 and 2014.
Harvey Gulf also announced that it has taken delivery of its final Tiger Shark-class 300-foot offshore supply vessel, Harvey Champion, on Aug. 8 from Eastern Shipbuilding. On delivery, Champion began a multi-year charter for operation in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Harvey Gulf CEO Shane Guidry noted the advantages of using LNG for his vessels’ fuel source.
“The operations savings, coupled with the stringent emissions rules that begin in August and will increase over the coming years, will put our customers in the best possible position to operate,” Guidry said.
Harvey Gulf also announced that it has contracted with a shipyard to construct a dry dock measuring 320 by 120 by 12 feet, with 9,000 long tons of lifting capacity.
“With a fleet of 32 deepwater vessels and six additional ones on the drawing board, the dock will lower our maintenance and repair costs and reduce vessel downtime by eliminating delays from limited availability of dry docks for high-deadweight-capacity vessels,” Guidry said.
When the dry dock is delivered in 2013, it will be placed at one of the two terminals the company is building in Port Fourchon, La. Harvey Gulf will also provide dry-dock related services to other vessel operators.
Vigor opens shipbuilding production center in Alaska
The outlook for building new ships at Vigor Industrial’s Alaska Ship & Drydock just got a lot brighter, warmer and drier with the opening of the Ketchikan Shipyard’s state-of-the-art assembly hall designed to build ships up to 500 feet in length.
The assembly hall occupies 70,000 square feet with an adjacent five-story production center to minimize material flow and maximize efficiency.
“The new assembly hall positions the Ketchikan Shipyard to be very competitive for emerging shipbuilding opportunities in Alaska,” said Adam Beck, president of Alaska Ship & Drydock. The shipyard has been building modules for Alaska Longline Co.’s new 136-foot factory longliner, Arctic Prowler, since March. This month the engine room module of Arctic Prowler was moved into the new hall, marking the hall’s official opening. The engine room module measures 32 by 40 by 17 feet and weighs 95 tons. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2013. The next phase of improvements for the Ketchikan Shipyard includes a $10 million steel fabrication shop scheduled for completion in late summer 2013.
New training vessel for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) has secured a new training vessel for the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. In an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Academy will receive a space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery ship, Liberty Star, which will provide a hands-on learning environment on which midshipmen can train using modern navigational technology, including dynamic positioning and advanced towing techniques.
The agreement outlines plans for the transfer of the vessel along with the Academy’s future relationship with NASA. This fall the vessel will be relocated from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Kings Point. MarAd is planning shipyard work to increase berthing space and to convert the ship to a training vessel after its arrival at the Academy.
Like all other MarAd reserve ships, Liberty Star will remain on call for occasional use — in this case NASA missions — allowing midshipmen to get at-sea experience with commercial crews.
Liberty Star was one of two vessels used by NASA to recover space shuttle solid rocket boosters following space shuttle launches. Propelled by two diesel engines with a combined output of 2,900 hp, the 176-foot Liberty Star has a 6,000-mile range and a maximum speed of 15 knots.
The ship’s controllable-pitch propellers and auxiliary water jet thruster, combined with modern joystick dynamic positioning capability, will provide midshipmen with a highly maneuverable training platform. The vessel has a 7,500-pound deck crane, which is an ideal tool for providing a basic understanding of modern cargo operations. The ship also has a fast rescue boat, which can provide midshipmen critical experience in general launch operations. In addition, the vessel’s double towing winch, substantial towing H bitts and a massive towing fairlead give the Academy significant new towing training capabilities.
Crowley to buy two new Jones Act tankers from Aker Philadelphia
Crowley Maritime announced in August that it has purchased two new Jones Act tankers, Pennsylvania and Florida, from Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA. The tankers, scheduled for delivery in September 2012 and March 2013, mark Crowley’s re-entry into the Jones Act tanker market since its last tanker was retired in 2011. The tankers will be capable of carrying nearly 330,000 barrels of a wide variety of petroleum products and chemicals. Once delivered, the vessels will operate in the U.S. coastwise trade. The U.S.-flagged vessels are the 13th and 14th in the Veteran-class built at Aker.
With a length of 600 feet, a beam of 105 feet and a draft of 61 feet, the tankers come in at 45,800 deadweight tons. Powered by the first Tier II large-bore engines, MAN-B&W 6S50MCs, Pennsylvania and Florida are expected to average 14.5-plus knots. In addition to being double hulled with segregated ballast systems, the ships will have safety features that include water and CO2 firefighting systems, as well as a foam water spray system.
Bollinger delivers 55,000-barrel tank barge to Bouchard
Bollinger Marine Fabricators, of Amelia, La., has delivered B. No. 250, a 55,000-barrel OPA ’90-compliant tank barge to Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., of Melville, N.Y.
B. No. 250 is a manned ocean-service, clean-oil barge measuring 317.5 feet in length with a 70-foot beam and a depth of 28 feet.
The barge is designed to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. It has 12 cargo compartments, vapor recovery and two separate pumping systems capable of transporting grade A and lower petroleum products.
The barge is fitted with an Intercon coupling ladder system, dual-pump ballast system, two Techcrane hose-handling cranes and Coastal marine anchor and mooring winches.
The barge is designed with a four-person accommodation unit with stateroom, galley and office area. The barge will be matched up with M/V Evening Star and will operate on the East Coast as a 55,000-barrel articulated tug barge.
