Shipbuilding News, March 2019

Matson, Philly christen second Aloha-class containership

Matson Inc. and Philly Shipyard recently christened Kaimana Hila, the second of two dual-fuel-ready Aloha-class containerships. The lead vessel, Daniel K. Inouye, was christened in June and entered service in November.

The 850-foot, 3,600-TEU vessels have a top speed of 24 knots. They are the largest containerships built in the U.S. and the fastest ships in Matson’s fleet. Both will carry cargo to Hawaii from the mainland U.S. ports of Seattle, Oakland and Long Beach. The project cost for both ships is about $418 million.

For now, the ships will run on marine diesel, although in the future they can be adapted to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Other environmentally conscious features include double-hulled fuel tanks, freshwater ballast systems and an efficient hull design.

"This is a proud day for everyone at Matson," Matt Cox, Matson's chairman and chief executive officer, said at the shipyard ceremony. "Daniel K. Inouye has performed well in its first four months of service, and we are excited to have Kaimana Hila joining it soon.

“These new vessels herald the beginning of a new era in our Hawaii service and will allow us to serve our customers better than ever for decades to come,” he said.

Philly Shipyard President and CEO Steinar Nerbovik expressed his gratitude to Matson while noting the project employed nearly 1,500 people. “We are immensely proud,” he said, “to provide another quality and safe vessel that Matson can be proud of for years to come.”

All American Marine launches two ferries for Kitsap Transit

All American Marine has nearly completed two unique ferries for Kitsap Transit in Washington state.

Waterman, launched in early February, is a 150-passenger hybrid-electric ferry designed by Seattle-based Glosten. The 70-by-26-foot aluminum-hulled vessel will be the first hybrid-electric ferry operating in Puget Sound.

Propulsion comes from twin BAE HybriDrive systems that include a generator, propulsion power converter, batteries and additional components.

“The hybrid system is fully automated, assessing the power loads, both hotel and propulsion loads, and manages the entire system,” said Matt Mullett, All American Marine's president and CEO.

In March, the shipyard in Bellingham, Wash., announced it had launched the 77-foot, 118-passenger ferry Reliance, also for Kitsap Transit. Teknicraft of New Zealand provided plans for the vessel that features an aluminum hull and composite deck and superstructure.

Propulsion consists of quad Hamilton 403 waterjets driven by Tier 3 Caterpillar C-18 engines. The service speed is 36 knots. A sister boat, Lady Swift, is scheduled for delivery this summer.

Kitsap Transit operates a ferry system linking Seattle with Bremerton to the south and Kingston to the north.

Navy’s new ocean tugs named for Navajo Nation

The U.S. Navy has announced its new class of offshore towing vessels will recognize the contributions the Navajo people have made to the U.S. armed forces.

The lead vessel in the class will be USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6). The T-ATS class will serve as towing, salvage and rescue ships. Gulf Island Shipyards won a $63.5 million contract to design and build the first ship based on plans for existing commercial towing tugs.

The new tugs are intended to replace T-ATF 166 and T-ARS 50 ships in service with the Military Sealift Command, the Navy said.

Gulf Island will build USNS Navajo at its Houma, La., yard. Delivery is expected in March 2021.

Master Boat Builders finishes OSV for SEACOR Marine

Construction of new offshore supply vessels (OSVs) has slowed dramatically in the Gulf, but it hasn’t stopped.

Master Boat Builders of Bayou La Batre, Ala., recently delivered a 221-foot OSV to SEACOR Marine. The new vessel, Totonaca, is powered by twin 1,911-hp Caterpillar 3512C diesel engines turning five-blade bronze props through Twin Disc MGX-5600 gears. Its maximum speed is 11.8 knots, with a 10.5-knot cruising speed.

Other components include four Caterpillar gensets plus a fifth Cat emergency generator, two Schottel thrusters installed at the bow and stern, Jastram steering and Twin Disc EP-300 engine controls.

Totonaca can carry 162,000 gallons of fuel and 24,000 gallons of fresh water, and its 155-foot-long aft deck can haul 2,216 long tons of cargo.

Nichols lays keel for first tug in new Foss class

Foss Maritime marked the ceremonial keel laying for the first new ASD 90 tugboat at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Wash.

The new tug is the first of four Nichols will build for Foss, although the order could one day reach 10 new vessels. Jensen Maritime Consultants designed the new vessel class based on its Valor tugboat design. Jensen and Foss are based in Seattle.

The new boat will feature twin MTU Series 4000 Tier 4 engines, Rolls-Royce US 255 azimuthing thrusters and Markey winches.

"The new tugs are designed to upgrade our fleet and improve the company’s ability to provide timely harbor and port services to a variety of customers,” said John Parrott, president and CEO of Foss Maritime. “By offering lower maintenance downtime, greater operating efficiencies and lower emissions, these new tugs help expand our nearshore and offshore capabilities.”

The first new tugs are scheduled for delivery in early 2020.

Armstrong delivers ocean research boat to Scripps

Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego now has a new research boat designed to study coastal and offshore areas around Southern California and the Channel Islands.

Armstrong Marine of Port Angeles, Wash., built the 42-foot Bob and Betty Beyster. The vessel has a 500-nm range and a 25-knot cruising speed. It can accommodate six scientists at a time.

Instruments include a seafloor mapping system, knuckle-boom crane for deploying autonomous vehicles, and a hand-deployable remotely operated vehicle. A dynamic positioning system that integrates GPS allows the vessel to remain in place while gathering data.

Bob and Betty Beyster is named for the founder of Science Applications International Corp. and his widow. The vessel is based at Scripps’ Nimitz Marine Facility, where it will be used by students, faculty and researchers. Funding for the $1.2 million boat came from a variety of donations.

By Professional Mariner Staff