ON THE WAYS CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS
Eastern launches another trailing suction hopper dredge for Weeks
Eastern Shipbuilding Group
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astern Shipbuilding Group Inc. (ESG) launched the 356'×79'6"×27'3" R.B. Weeks in June, the second trailing suction hopper dredge the shipbuilder has built for Weeks Marine Inc. Designed by Royal IHC, the 8,550-cu.-yd. capacity R.B. Weeks (ESG Hull 258) is being built at ESG’s Allanton, Fla., shipyard. The vessel will undergo outfitting and trials at Eastern’s Port St. Joe, Fla., facility with delivery set for 2023. The R.B. Weeks is nearly identical to the Magdalen, delivered by ESG in 2017. The vessel includes an electrical power, propulsion, and dredge machinery package by Royal IHC, GE Tier 4 engines, along with several accommodation and crew comfort upgrades. “We are excited to see the launch
356' trailing suction hopper dredge for Weeks Marine.
of our newest trailing suction hopper dredge, the R.B. Weeks, which will join her sister vessel in various dredging activities primarily aiding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain
ports, harbors, and other waterways to ensure ship navigation is possible,” Eric Ellefsen, president, Weeks Marine, said. “These two vessels have an equivalent hopper size and pumping capacity, and
BOATBUILDING BITTS
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Libra Group
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mericraft Marine, a subsidiary of the Libra Group, has acquired St. Johns Ship Building. The sale price was not announced. Based in Palatka, Fla., near Jacksonville, St. Johns Ship Building builds and repairs a wide variety of steel and aluminum vessels, including ferries, tugs, deck and tank barges, landing crafts, and general cargo vessels. It is also one of the few U.S. shipyards that builds vessels that support and service offshore wind farms, company officials said. Libra Group is a privately-owned international business group whose subsidiaries own and operate assets in more than 50 countries. The purchase of St. Johns comes at a time of significant need for Jones Act-compliant vessels, company officials said. In May, MAN Engines put its first two
Americraft Marine has acquired St. Johns Ship Building.
dual fuel hydrogen-powered engines for workboats into serial operation — two 12-cylinder MAN D2862 LE448 diesels, each with an output of 749 kW (1,019 hp) at 2,100 rpm. The engines are Tier III-certified and equipped with a selective catalytic reduction exhaust gas aftertreatment system. The
low-emission engines are used on the world’s first hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel (CTV), the 82'x24' Hydrocat 48 from Windcat Workboats. Both V12 engines have been prepared for dual fuel operation by MAN Engines and supplemented with a hydrogen injection system by development partner CMB.TECH. Master Boat Builders Inc. (MBB) announced in June that the Hermes, a 98'6"x43'6" advanced Rotortug (ART 90-98US), was delivered to Seabulk. The Rotortug was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. and built at MBB’s Coden, Ala., shipyard. Hermes is the sistership to Nike, which was delivered to Seabulk in 2021. Main propulsion comes from three Caterpillar 3512E diesel engines, Tier 4 certified, and each producing 2,375 hp, along with two Schottel SRP
www.workboat.com • AUGUST 2022 • WorkBoat
