Shipbuilding News, January 2019

VT Halter delivers Crowley’s second LNG-fueled con-ro

Crowley Maritime has taken delivery of Taino, the second LNG-fueled container/roll-on/roll-off ship in the world, from VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Miss. Taino is a sister ship to El Coqui, which was delivered in July.

The 720-foot ships run from Jacksonville, Fla., to San Juan, Puerto Rico. They can carry up to 2,400 TEUs and 400 vehicles on enclosed ro-ro decks. Both Commitment-class ships fly a U.S. flag.

“I want to congratulate and thank all the men and women at Crowley and VT Halter Marine who helped to bring these marvelous new ships to life,” said Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO, upon delivery of Taino in December. “They are shining examples of maritime innovation and craftsmanship available right here in the United States thanks to the Jones Act.”

Liquefied natural gas offers a significant reduction in emissions compared to marine diesel fuel. For instance, LNG eliminates sulfur oxide and particulate matter and cuts nitrogen oxide by 92 percent. Carbon dioxide output is cut by 35 percent.

Ingalls to build two more national security cutters

The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded contracts worth over $930 million to Huntington Ingalls Industries to build two more national security cutters (NSCs). The 418-foot ships will be the 10th and 11th built in the Legend-class program.

Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., has completed seven NSCs. The seventh cutter, Kimball (WMSL 756), will be commissioned on Jan. 19 in Hawaii. The eighth NSC, Midgett (WMSL 757), will head for sea trials later this year. It will be followed by Stone (WMSL 758), which is still under construction.

National security cutters have a top speed of 28 knots and a range of 12,000 miles. Their endurance is 60 days with a 120-person crew. The vessels will replace 12 Hamilton-class cutters that date back to the 1960s.

The contracts are valued at $468.75 million for NSC 10 and $462.13 million for NSC 11.

Davie delivers refitted icebreaker to Canadian Coast Guard

Canada’s Coast Guard has taken delivery of Captain Molly Kool, a 275-foot icebreaker refitted at Davie Shipyard. It is the first icebreaker to join the Canadian Coast Guard fleet in 25 years.

The former anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) ship is the first of three for the service. Canadian authorities acquired the vessels from Norway more than two years ago, and Chantier Davie in Levis, Quebec, is performing the upgrades.

“The first ship will allow the Coast Guard to provide essential services during the upcoming winter season, while the other two undergo refit projects,” the Canadian Coast Guard said in a prepared statement.

The lead vessel, originally built in 2001, is named for Capt. Myrtle Kool, a Canadian who was the first female master mariner in North America. Known as Molly, she was born in New Brunswick and earned her captain’s license in 1937. Two years later, she earned her coastal master’s certificate.

Nichols Brothers gets order for two clean-running ferries

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island, Wash., has won a contract from Kitsap Transit for two clean-running ferries outfitted with exhaust aftertreatment.

The Bremerton, Wash., operator launched a fast ferry service about 18 months ago, and the 140-foot, 250-passenger ferries will bolster service from Seattle to Bremerton and surrounding communities. BMT Nigel Gee will design the aluminum catamarans.

“Using Puget Sound as a water highway to reduce the Seattle metro traffic congestion … with very reasonable travel times is a great model for the other counties around Seattle to follow,” said Gavin Higgins, CEO of Nichols Brothers.

Propulsion for the new ferries will consist of twin MTU Tier 4 engines each generating 3,435 hp at 1,800 rpm, ZF 9050 gears and Rolls-Royce Kamewa A71-4 waterjets. The engines will be outfitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment to cut emissions. Naiad is supplying an active ride control system. Top speed will be 37 knots, with a 35-knot cruising speed.

The vessels are expected to enter service in 2020.

Bay Shipbuilding delivers ATB to Kirby Corp.

Kirby Corp. has taken delivery of a new articulated tug-barge (ATB) from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding capable of moving 155,000 barrels of product.

The 130-foot, 8,000-hp tugboat Ronnie Murph is paired with the 521-foot barge Kirby 155-03. The ATB can travel at up to 12 knots.

It is the third 155,000-barrel ATB that the Sturgeon Bay, Wis., shipyard has built for Kirby in the past three years.

By Professional Mariner Staff