Signet continues Gulf Coast fleet expansion
Signet Maritime Corp. announced on Dec. 12, 2012, a contract with Patti Marine Enterprises Inc. in Pensacola, Fla., to build two Robert Allan Ltd. designed tugs.
This marks the ninth design by Robert Allan for Signet in five years. Construction commenced in November. Delivery of the first vessel is expected in December of this year, and the second is expected in March 2014.
In keeping with the longstanding Signet tradition of naming vessels in honor of America’s Cup winners, the new RAmparts 3200 ASD tugs will be named Signet Intrepid and Signet Vigilant.
These vessels will be the fifth and sixth ASD tugboats delivered for Signet in less than three years and will operate from the International Operations Center in Ingleside, Texas, where they will primarily be used to perform offshore and inshore rig escort, barge and subsea support work.
Signet is committed to building environmentally conscious tugboats that will adhere to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier III emissions regulations. The tugs will also feature C175-16 CAT engines, Markey Model DEPCF-52S winches, and Rolls Royce US 255 controllable-pitch z-drives. With 83 tons of bollard pull, these vessels will be powerful and offer improved reliability to handle the expanding needs of the marine transportation industry.
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard starts work on second Aframax tanker
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. began production on Dec. 19 on the second of two Aframax tankers that it is building for SeaRiver Maritime Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp.’s U.S. marine affiliate. The construction of the two tankers, valued at $400 million, will create more than 1,000 jobs.
A small ceremony was held in the shipyard’s fabrication shop to mark the cutting on the ship’s first steel plate. These plates will become part of the double hull of the tanker that protects the cargo tanks. When completed in 2014, the vessels will be 820 feet long and capable of carrying 115,000 tons of crude oil. The tankers are intended to transport Alaskan North Slope crude oil from Prince William Sound to the U.S. West Coast.
In addition to the two Aframax tankers for SeaRiver, Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is also currently constructing one 46,000-dwt product tanker for delivery in early 2013 to Crowley.
Kvichak to build two new response boats for L.A. County
Kvichak Marine Industries of Seattle announced on Dec. 14 that it has been awarded a contract for a 44.5-by-13.7-foot Response Boat Medium-C for operation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The RBM-C is the sister vessel of the highly successful U.S. Coast Guard RB-M and has been adapted to meet the detection mission requirements of the LA County Sheriff’s Department for CBRNE vessels (chemical and biological agents, radiological, nuclear, and explosives). Kvichak has built four RB-M vessels for various municipalities in the United States.
Designed by the British firm Camarc Design, the all-aluminum vessel is powered by twin MTU 60 series engines rated at 825 bhp each. Rolls Royce Kamewa FF375S waterjets were chosen for propulsion with Twin Disc MG5114SC transmissions. This combination allows for excellent maneuverability and a top speed exceeding 40 knots.
Kvichak delivers new passenger catamaran to Lake Havasu
In early December, Kvichak Marine Industries delivered P/V Tecopa, a 65-foot passenger catamaran for the Chemehuevi Transit Authority of Lake Havasu, Calif. The vessel operates as a ferry on Lake Havasu, with ports of call at Lake Havasu City on the Arizona side and at Havasu Landing on the California side.
The boat had its sea trials in Seattle and was then disassembled and loaded on two trucks and shipped to Havasu Landing, where Kvichak reassembled it. The vessel completed its first trip on Dec 3.
The 150-passenger catamaran is powered by twin MTU series 60 diesel engines, rated for 600 hp at 2,100 rpm, and fitted to ZF 550 marine gears. The vessel has a service speed of over 20 knots and operates with a crew of three.
Elliott Bay Design group wins Significant Boats of 2012 award
Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) was recognized as the designer of the state-of-the-art, purpose-built, Lightering Support Vessels (LSV) for AET (formerly American Eagle Tankers), receiving the award for "Significant Boats of 2012" during the recent International Workboat Show.
The 185-foot Innovator, built by Leevac Industries of Jennings, La., was recognized. Bill Merritt of AET and Christina Villiott of EBDG accepted the "Significant Boats of 2012" award on the opening day of the 2012 International Workboat Show.
These vessels primarily service the lightering activity of AET in the Gulf of Mexico, based at the Port of Galveston. AET is an industry leader in the Gulf lightering business and requires modern, new lightering support tonnage to better serve its clients and aid in safe operations. EBDG worked with AET to develop this specialized LSV design to meet the service requirements of AET’s client.
The new vessels measure 187 by 46 by 15 feet, have an estimated lightship weight of 1,670 tons and are designed to be easily built and operated.
