Shipyards
Trailblazers
Environmental concerns, technology producing more first-of-a-kind workboats.
T
here is a sea change taking place in the workboat industry. It’s been years in the making, but now we’re getting a better look at what’s to come. Hybrids, all-electric, autonomous, alternative fuel, and offshore wind support vessels were once thought of as years down the road. This is no longer the case. “By working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, with innovative technology partners, and with bestin-class shipyards such as All American Marine, we can make the transition to decarbonized shipping a reality today,” Pace Ralli, co-founder and CEO of SWITCH Maritime, said recently after the launch of his new hydrogen fuel cell powered ferry. “We don’t have to wait.” As for the first U.S.-built liquid natural gas ATB, which was delivered in November 2020, Shane Guidry, principal owner of Q-LNG Transport, said, “We believe this vessel’s DPS-1+ notation raises the bar in safety, efficiency, and compatibil-
ity in the LNG bunkering market.” INSTALLATION VESSEL Construction of the first U.S.-flag, Jones Actcompliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) got underway Dec. 16, 2020, with the keel laying for the Dominion Energy boat. The 472'x184'x38' WTIV will be one of the largest in its class, with a Huisman main crane boom length of 426' and lifting capacity of 2,200 tons — enough to handle the next generation of 12- to 14-megawatt turbines standing over 800'. "This is a monumental step for the offshore wind industry in America,” Robert M. Blue, Dominion Energy’s president and chief executive officer, said during keel laying ceremonies for the vessel. The vessel is under construction by global marine shipbuilding firm Keppel AmFELS at its Brownsville, Texas, shipyard, and will carry up to 119 people when it goes into service by the
Sea Change is the first hydrogen fuel cell vessel in the U.S.
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www.workboat.com • OCTOBER 2021 • WorkBoat
All American Marine
By Ken Hocke, Senior Editor
