Shipbuilding News, July 2020

Matson, NASSCO christen second Kanaloa-class con-ro

Officials from Matson Inc. and General Dynamics NASSCO gathered at the San Diego shipyard on July 2 to christen Matsonia, the second of two Kanaloa-class ships. The two container/roll-on/roll-off ships (con-ros) are the largest of their kind ever built in the United States.

The combined cost of the 870-foot ships approaches $500 million, according to a Matson. Matsonia, upon delivery, will be the fourth new ship the Honolulu-based company has put into service since 2018. 

Matsonia and its sister ship, Lurline, can carry 3,500 TEU on deck and up to 500 vehicles in an enclosed garage that also has space for rolling stock and break-bulk cargo. The ships are built with an efficiently designed double hull, equipped with a freshwater ballast system and capable of sailing at 23 knots. The EPA Tier 3 engines also can run on marine diesel or liquefied natural gas. 

"Matson is already benefiting from the speed, capacity and improved environmental profile of the three new ships we've put into service since 2018," Matt Cox, Matson's chairman and chief executive officer, said after the christening ceremony. "Matsonia will be our fourth new ship, completing a three-year fleet renewal program that positions us well to serve the needs of our communities in Hawaii for many years to come."

Matsonia, like Lurline, will serve Honolulu from Matson’s West Coast terminals in Seattle, Oakland and Long Beach, Calif. The vessel is the fifth in Matson’s 138-year history to carry the Matsonia name. Delivery is expected in late 2020.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding completing ice-hardened ferry 

Washington Island Ferry is close to taking delivery of a year-round vehicle/passenger vessel that will travel the Death’s Door Passage in Lake Michigan. 

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding is putting the finishing touches this week on Madonna, a 124-foot ferry that can hold 28 vehicles and 150 passengers. The vessel is the largest in the operator’s fleet, and one of two with icebreaking capabilities that can operate year-round. 

“We are happy with our continued partnership with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding,” ferry system President Hoyt Purinton said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to operating Madonna between the tip of the Door Peninsula and Washington Island’s Detroit Harbor for many years to come.”

Propulsion on the new ferry will come from twin 800-hp Caterpillar engines turning stainless-steel shafts and props with robust hull framing to break through the frozen lake. Passengers have access to indoor and outdoor seating, with restrooms on the upper and lower decks. 

Eastern launches second Ollis-class ferry for Staten Island

Eastern Shipbuilding has launched the second of three double-ended Ollis-class ferries for the New York Department of Transportation’s Staten Island Ferry service. 

Sandy Ground will follow the lead boat in the series, SSG Michael H. Ollis, which is scheduled for delivery late this year. That vessel is named for a Staten Island native killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 28, 2013, while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle designed the 320-foot, 4,500-passenger ferries that will link Manhattan with Staten Island. Propulsion will come from four EMD 12-710 Tier 4 engines turning one Voith Schneider propeller on each end through Reintjes DUP 3000 P combining gears. Electrical power comes from three Caterpillar gensets rated for 425 kW. 

The ceremony on June 26 included remarks from shipyard CEO Brian D’Isernia, who highlighted efforts by Eastern employees to recover from Hurricane Michael 18 months ago and overcome new challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He praised the employees for adjusting work processes and their lifestyles to keep the Panama City, Fla., shipyard running safely. 

Virginia pilots take delivery of latest Gladding-Hearn launch

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has delivered a new pilot launch to the Virginia Pilot Association based in Virginia Beach. 

The Chesapeake-class MKII vessel is the ninth launch built by the Massachusetts shipyard for the pilots group since 1983. It is the 22nd vessel in the Chesapeake class to enter service since its introduction in 2003, Gladding-Hearn officials said. The 56-foot aluminum pilot boat features an aluminum deep-V hull form. 

The new vessel, Richmond, is equipped with two Volvo Penta D13-700 Tier 3 engines each producing 700 hp. They are paired with Volvo Penta IPS propulsion pods and Humphree interceptors for improved comfort, speed and efficiency. The top speed exceeds 33 knots. 

Other features include a 12-kW Alaska Diesel genset; a twin 16,000-BTU reverse-cycle HVAC system for heating and cooling throughout the vessel; NorSap seats, and a comfortable crew rest area. Heated decks and handrails eliminate ice accumulation, and a winch-operated rotating davit system is located at the transom for man-overboard rescues. 

Metal Shark introduces patrol boat capable of 70 knots

Speed is critical for many military applications, and Metal Shark has developed a new high-performance patrol boat that can reach 70 knots.

The 52 Fearless Super Interceptor is now under construction at Metal Shark’s facility in Jeanerette, La. The vessel is a “highly optimized” version of its existing Fearless 52 center console vessel. Patrol boats in this series have found homes with the U.S. Navy and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Caribbean. 

Metal Shark said it has orders for 15 of the Super Interceptors from military and law enforcement customers overseas. 

The 58-by-11.5-foot vessels will be powered by two 1,650-hp MAN diesel inboard engines paired with Arneson ASD14 surface drives through ZF transmissions. They will have capacity for 1,000 gallons of fuel, translating to 12.5 hours’ endurance at 50 knots. The boats’ top speed is in the “70-knot range,” according to Metal Shark.

The initial 15 vessels will have a center console configuration and seating for six people. The hull will be equipped with “visual deterrents” that include chiseled and menacing lines, and the faceted hull developed by Metal Shark for the Navy. 

Seaspan launches third OFSV for Canadian Coast Guard

Seaspan Shipyards has launched the future CCGS John Cabot, the third offshore fisheries science vessel (OFSV) built for the Canadian Coast Guard. The construction is part of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy to upgrade its fleets of combat and non-combat vessels. 

The scaled launch ceremony took place July 3 under strict COVID-19 public health protocols, according to Seaspan. A small number of employees and special guests gathered at the shipyard in North Vancouver, British Columbia, for the ceremonial breaking of a champagne bottle against the bow. 

The 208-foot CCGS John Cabot is the third vessel in the OFSV series. The lead boat, CCGS Sir John Franklin, joined the Canadian Coast Guard fleet last summer. It was followed by the second boat in the series, CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier, in December.

The vessels will be used to monitor fish stocks and perform other research, including assessing the effects of climate change. CCGS John Cabot was 97 percent complete at launch and it should be delivered in the next few months. 

By Professional Mariner Staff