TOTE delays Hawaii plans, putting Philly ship order on hold
TOTE has put its Hawaii expansion on hold — and postponed construction of new containerships to serve the islands — after identifying issues with pier facilities in Honolulu Harbor.
TOTE and Philly Shipyard signed a letter of intent in July calling for up to four new ships with deliveries starting in 2020. That agreement expired on Jan. 31, and its future is uncertain.
Hawaii state government allocated land and pier space to run the deep-draft cargo service scheduled to begin in 2020. But a technical review of Piers 1 and 2 in Honolulu conducted for TOTE identified improvements required to accommodate ships on the new U.S. mainland-to-Hawaii route.
Philly Shipyard has since suspended the TOTE project, for which planning and design work had already begun. The shipyard also ordered long-lead items for the first two ships that might now need to be canceled.
“If these orders were to be canceled, then the cancellation costs would be substantially lower than the value of the orders placed,” the yard said in a release. It also noted that the project could be restarted again if certain issues are resolved.
Meanwhile, the yard is continuing work on two 3,600-TEU containerships for Matson that also will carry cargo between the mainland and Hawaii, and it is continuing to look for additional projects.
Robert Allan, Kongsberg developing unmanned fireboat
The era of unmanned ships appears to be getting closer by the day. Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL) and Kongsberg Maritime are partnering on a remotely operated fireboat designed for use in and around busy seaports.
The 65-foot lead vessel, known as the RALamander 2000, can be deployed solo or as a “force multiplier” with traditional manned fire assets, according to RAL. The company highlights the vessel’s ability to fight potentially toxic fires while keeping fire crews safely away from the flames and smoke.
As proposed, the vessel will be rated FiFi-1 and have monitors capable of dispensing foam or water. Dynamic positioning will allow the vessel to hold station, while another function will allow the boat to move back and forth along a line while directing spray at the target. It also will be capable of emergency towing.
An operator will wirelessly control the RALamander from a console on a nearby manned vessel via high-bandwidth link. That equipment is designed for future upgrades and different levels of autonomy depending on the user’s needs, RAL said.
The company did not disclose a development timeline for the lead vessel, or say where it will be built and tested.
Baydelta orders Jensen-designed hybrid tug
Baydelta Maritime has ordered a hybrid tugboat from Nichols Brothers Boat Builders that will be capable of running in diesel, diesel-electric and all-electric modes.
Jensen Maritime of Seattle will provide plans and engineering services for the 100-foot z-drive vessel equipped with Rolls-Royce hybrid technology. The ship-assist and escort tug will have similar capabilities to Baydelta’s current Valor-class harbor tugs, according to Jensen.
Main propulsion will come from twin Caterpillar C3516 Tier 3 engines each rated for 2,675 hp at 1,600 rpm. The boat also will have twin Rolls-Royce 424-kW electric motors powered by three Caterpillar C9.3 300-kW generators and a fourth C7.1 generator rated for 150 kW. Rolls-Royce also will supply the z-drive units, and Rapp Marine will provide the hawser and towing winches.
The hybrid propulsion system will reduce emissions and cut fuel costs. “The flexibility provided by the drive system will allow loitering and transit at up to 7 to 8 knots in electric-only mode, then a bollard pull of 90, or 9 short tons, in combined diesel-electric mode,” Jensen said in a news release.
Delivery is slated for early 2019 from Nichols Brothers’ shipyard on Whidbey Island, Wash.
Bollinger wins contract to build Crowley ATB
Crowley Maritime has awarded a contract to Bollinger Shipyards to build an articulated tug-barge (ATB) capable of carrying 100,000 barrels of clean petroleum products. The new vessels will serve the Alaska market under long-term charter with Petro Star of Alaska.
Crowley subsidiary Jensen Maritime designed the ATB tug, named Aveogan, and the barge, Oliver Leavitt. Leavitt is the former chairman of the Arctic Slope Regional Corp., Petro Star’s parent company. Propulsion will come from twin GE Tier 4 engines turning z-drives for added maneuverability. The tug and barge will be paired with an Intercon coupler.
“While Crowley has operated ATBs in Alaska in the past, this will be the first ATB of its size and class that will be dedicated to the Alaska market,” Rocky Smith, Crowley Fuels' senior vice president and general manager, said in a prepared statement.
Bollinger will build the vessels at its Bollinger Marine Fabricators yard in Amelia, La. Delivery is expected in 2019.
Master Marine delivers Tier 3 fleet boat
Alabama shipbuilder Master Marine has delivered the 67-foot fleet boat Tom Torretti to Waterfront Services of Cairo, Ill.
The vessel has twin Mitsubishi S6R2-Y3MPTAW Tier 3 engines each generating 803 hp at 1,400 rpm, turning 70-inch Sound props through Twin Disc MG 5321 gears at a 5:1 ratio. Northern Lights supplied the gensets, R.W. Fernstrum made the keel coolers and Schuyler fendering surrounds the hull.
Tom Torretti can hold 10,400 gallons of fuel, almost 4,400 gallons of potable water and 9,500 gallons of ballast water. Its maximum working draft is 7 feet, 9 inches.
Armstrong delivers vessels for Israeli, Hawaiian customers
Armstrong Marine of Port Angeles, Wash., has delivered a survey vessel for a customer in Israel and a tour boat to a Hawaiian operator.
The shipyard launched the aluminum-hulled Adel on Jan. 19, and six days later the survey boat completed sea trials. Propulsion comes from twin 225-hp diesel engines, while electrical power comes from a 4.5-kW generator. Onboard survey equipment includes a computer workstation for three people, A-frame, aluminum davit and aft moon pool. The operator was not specified.
The yard also delivered the 40-foot aluminum catamaran Mirai to Hawaii Experiences of Oahu. Powered by four 250-hp Evinrude outboards, the 49-passenger vessel can reach speeds of 47 mph.
