Shipbuilding News, July 2015

Harvey Gulf acquires two Gulf shipyards

Harvey Gulf International Marine is entering the shipbuilding segment following the purchase of two shipyards along the Gulf of Mexico.  

The New Orleans-based company is acquiring Gulf Coast Shipyards in Mississippi as well as Trinity Yachts in Louisiana. Trinity Yachts builds custom superyachts and operates as a division of Gulf Coast Shipyards.

In order to manage its shipbuilding assets, Harvey Gulf will be launching a new affiliate, Harvey Shipyard Group, the company announced in late June.

Under Harvey Gulf’s leadership, Gulf Coast Shipyard will become a state-of-the-art builder of world-class vessels, the company claims. Gulf Coast is already responsible for the construction of the nation’s first LNG offshore supply vessels (OSVs) for the offshore market. Harvey Gulf alone is investing $350 million to construct a six-vessel fleet of hybrid LNG-diesel OSVs.

In July, Harvey Gulf will open its first LNG marine fueling facility at Port Fourchon, La. Harvey Gulf’s $25 million Phase I construction will be capable of fueling Harvey Gulf’s fleet of dual-fuel offshore supply vessels and will accommodate America’s growing fleet of over-the-road vehicles operating on safe, efficient LNG.

Harvey Gulf is the only American shipbuilder to meet the requirements of the ABS “ENVIRO+, Green Passport Gas Fueled Ships” certification and says it remains committed to building and operating the most environmentally friendly vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.

Harvey Gulf expects its shipyard acquisitions to result in an expansion of operations in Gulfport and New Orleans as it continues to bring innovative dual-fuel ship design, engineering and construction to its marine transportation industry clients.

New fireboat for Military Ocean Terminal Concord

Technology Associates Inc. of New Orleans delivered a fast response firefighting vessel to the U.S. Army’s Military Surface Deployment Distribution Command (SDDC) 596th Transportation Brigade (TB), on June 12.

The all-aluminum fast response firefighting vessel, named Port Chicago, is 75 feet overall, with a 20-foot beam and 10-foot draft. The new vessel is designed to serve as fire protection for the Military Ocean Terminal at Concord, Calif. 

The firefighting vessel was fabricated jointly at Aluma Marine facilities in Harvey, La. It is National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 1925 Type II-compliant and meets the ABS High Speed Vessel rules. It is equipped with a total 3,200-bhp Caterpillar C-32 propulsion engines, which turn two Hamilton water jets allowing for quick tactical response at high speeds reaching 30 knots and provide the ability to approach shallow waters. 

The vessel's firefighting system features 1,200-hp fire pump engines powering two fire pumps. There are three manifolds to supply water to hoses to fight fires on an affected platform or on shore. The monitors are remote and manually controlled. The remotely operated fire monitor, mounted on the pilothouse and can be viewed from an inside fire response station through two roof windows. The fire monitors are capable of reaching fires over 400 feet away. The vessel is equipped with foam concentrate tanks. The vessel has a deluge fire sprinkler system which, when activated, covers the entire vessel's exterior with water. The vessel features a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system.

SAFE Boats International awarded Homeland Security contract

SAFE Boats International of Bremerton, Wash., has been awarded a contract from U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to build up to 52 coastal interceptor vessels (CIV). Should all options be executed, the contract value would exceed $48 million.

SAFE Boats describes its CIV as a 41-foot rugged and maneuverable vessel, capable of high speed interceptions and ultra-tight turns in close proximity to other vessels as well as open ocean speeds over 54 knots.     

The CIV can be configured for mission operations including pursuing suspect vessels for the purpose of boarding, searching and, when necessary, arresting violators, seizing the suspect vessel and contraband.

SAFE Boats CIV is a variant of the SAFE 41 Center Console-Offshore, a commercially available interceptor design currently in service with the Royal Bahamian Police, Colombian Navy and private owners.

“We are gratified to be selected and entrusted with this program by the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection,” commented Dennis Morris, SAFE Boats president and chief executive. “We understand how critical their mission is and believe that the SAFE Boats CIV will ensure effective mission execution for years to come.”

With the CIV award, SAFE Boats is now delivering for three major U.S. federal programs including the U.S. Coast Guard Over-the-Horizon (OTH) and the U.S. Navy Mk VI high-speed patrol boat.

Kvichak to build foil research catamaran

Kvichak Marine Industries was awarded a contract in mid-June to design and build a 48-foot all-aluminum foil assisted research catamaran for the King County Environmental Laboratory. The vessel will operate in Puget Sound, the Straits of Juan de Fuca and adjoining inland waterways. The vessel will be conducting water-sampling research along with marine buoy calibration, maintenance and retrieval, tours, shoreline surveys and dive and ROV operations.

This will be the 13th foil assisted catamaran Kvichak has built since 2000. Kvichak’s unique foil design enhances seakeeping at top speeds leading to reduced full consumption and greater efficiency. In addition, at lower speeds the system provides considerable heave and pitch damping, making the hull an excellent platform for the type of survey work performed by research vessels.

The vessel will be powered by Cummins Tier 3 engines, Hamilton water jets and Twin Disc gears. Other features include a full service water quality lab, chemical storage locker, 36-by-36-foot moon pool on the aft deck, AirMar Weather Station 200WX system, two staterooms with one berth each and full galley with settee. Delivery is scheduled for summer of 2016.

Newport News to provide aircraft carrier maintenance

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced July 2 that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has received an indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity contract award to assist Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility with maintenance work on the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is the awarding agency.

The contract has a period of performance of two years and a maximum value of $75 million. The contract includes providing qualified nuclear and nuclear-related trade labor, execution of discrete work packages and training through June 30, 2017. The work will be completed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., and at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. 

By Professional Mariner Staff