2017 SIGNIFICANT BOATS IN BUSINESS ON THE COASTAL AND INLAND WATERS
JANUARY 2018
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WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Our top 10 boats of 2017
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orkBoat’s 10 Significant Boats of 2017 once again showed off the true diversity of our industry, both by vessel type and geography. This year, the list of 10 boats recognized at our annual awards breakfast during the International WorkBoat Show in late November was dominated by tugs. They made up half the list. In addition to the five tugs, two ferries, an articulated tug-barge, a multipurpose supply vessel and a survey vessel were selected by WorkBoat’s editors. Six of the 10 boats chosen were built at Gulf of Mexico shipyards, three were built at West Coast yards, and one in the Great Lakes. All 10 Significant Boats were not only worthy of being recognized, but an argument could be made for why each could be chosen as the boat of the year. Our process is very subjective, but this year one boat stood out — Harvey Gulf International Marine’s MPSVs. The 340'×73' Harvey Sub-Sea and Harvey Blue-Sea, 5,737-dwt multipurpose supply vessels, were built at Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s Allanton, Fla., facility. While the two boats’ roles range from ROV support to marine construction to cable laying to subsea equipment installation and support, the MPSVs were custom-tailored by designers Vard Marine Inc. to fulfill the boats’ mission: deepwater subsea support in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The MPSVs have two launch-andrecovery systems (LARS) that allow operation of ROVs up to 250 hp, ranging to depths of 4,000 meters. With so many systems at work, an integrated approach to monitoring and control is provided by the Wärtsilä
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 6 8 10 14 16 20 22 24 26
Harvey MPSVs Ammonia ATB Hydrus-class ferries Crescent Towing tugs Corps survey vessel Great Lakes tug Tier 4 tug Z-drive tug New York ferries Seacor Rotortugs
www.workboat.com David Krapf, Editor in Chief
electronics systems that coordinate power, maneuvering, and customersupport operations. The vessel’s DP-2 system controls the machinery. To be considered for 2017’s Significant Boats, the vessels had to appear in WorkBoat from December 2016 through November 2017 and be finished and delivered. To be considered for 2018, boats must appear in our December 2017 through November 2018 issues, so please send us your newbuild information. Congratulations to the builders, designers and owners of these fine vessels.
PUBLISHER Jerry Fraser jfraser@divcom.com EDITOR IN CHIEF David Krapf dkrapf@divcom.com SENIOR EDITOR Ken Hocke khocke@divcom.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kirk Moore kmoore@divcom.com ART DIRECTOR Dylan Andrews PUBLISHING OFFICES Main Office: 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438 • Portland, ME 04112-7438 • (207) 842-5608 • Fax: (207) 842-5609 Southern/Editorial Office: P.O. Box 1348 Mandeville, LA 70470 • Fax: (985) 624-4801 Subscription Information: (978) 671-0444 • cs@e-circ.net General Information: (207) 842-5610 ADVERTISING PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING PROJECT MANAGER Wendy Jalbert 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438 • Portland, ME 04112-7438 (207) 842-5616 • Fax: (207) 842-5611 wjalbert@divcom.com EASTERN U.S. AND CANADA EUROPE Kristin Luke (207) 842-5635 • Fax: (207) 842-5611 kluke@divcom.com WESTERN U.S. AND CANADAPACIFIC RIM Susan Chesney (206) 463-4819 • Fax: (206) 463-3342 schesney@divcom.com
dkrapf@divcom.com
GULF / SOUTHERN U.S. SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA Mike Cohen (207) 842-5439 • Fax: (207) 842-5611 mcohen@divcom.com
WORKBOAT® (ISSN 0043-8014) is published monthly by Diversified Business Communications and Diversified Publications, 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112-7438. Editorial Office: P.O. Box 1348, Mandeville, LA 70470. Annual Subscription Rates: U.S. $39; Canada $55; International $103. When available, extra copies of current issue are $4, all other issues and special issues are $5. For subscription customer service call (978) 671-0444. The publisher reserves the right to sell subscriptions to those who have purchasing power in the industry this publication serves. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, ME, and additional mailing offices. Circulation Office: 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112-7438. From time to time, we make your name and address available to other companies whose products and services may interest you. If you prefer not to receive such mailings, please send a copy of your mailing label to: WorkBoat’s Mailing Preference Service, P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WORKBOAT, P.O. Box 1792, Lowell, MA 01853. Copyright 20 18 by Diversified Business Communications. Printed in U.S.A.
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
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WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Harvey Sub-Sea/Harvey Blue-Sea named WorkBoat’s Boat of the Year. At the 38th edition of the International WorkBoat Show held in New Orleans recently, the editors of WorkBoat magazine presented awards to the builders, designers and owners of 2017’s 10 Significant Boats. Also, for the fourth consecutive year, the editors selected a boat of the year from among the 10 winners. The 2017 Boat of the Year was the Harvey Sub-Sea and Harvey Blue Sea, 340' multipurpose supply vessels owned by Harvey Gulf International Marine.
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hile plans for most deepwater offshore service vessels have been put on hold with the industry mired in a major downturn, Harvey Gulf International Marine forged ahead and recently wrapped up its ambitious construction program begun several years ago. An important part of that newbuild program is the 340'×73' Harvey SubSea, a 5,737-dwt multipurpose supply vessel (MPSV) that was delivered in April, and its sistership, the Harvey Blue-Sea, delivered six months later. The ENVIRO+ classed MPSVs were built at Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s Allanton, Fla., facility. “We saw from the beginning that a vessel this big, this capable, would need to fill as many roles as possible given its cost,” said Chad Verret, executive vice president for Harvey Gulf, New Orleans. “The amazing thing is how well it fills all of its roles.” While those roles range from ROV
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support to marine construction to cable laying to subsea equipment installation and support, the Harvey Sub-Sea was custom-tailored by her designers, Vard Marine Inc., to fulfill her name’s mission: deepwater subsea support in the U.S. Gulf. “Every capacity, every capability, has to be larger to service the deepwater oilfield,” Verret explained. “When your round trip is almost 500 miles, you need to carry everything necessary to install and support sea-floor installations and other subsea activities as well as rig support.” Bill Lind, vice president of operations at Vard’s Houston office, explained the difficulties in adapting such large, versatile vessels to existing Coast Guard regulations. “When we started designing this vessel the SPS (Special Purpose Ship) Code (an international standard) was still a fairly new concept, and the Coast Guard did not recognize it. We had to work very closely with ABS and the Coast Guard with regards to probabilistic stability, or stability in case of damage.”
Lind emphasized the value of faceto-face meetings to overcome the challenges presented by the vessel’s various roles. “Our office is 20 minutes away from the ABS offices. You can’t expect people to open up a plan or a schematic on their computer monitors and right away identify a problem or area of concern,” he said. “But when we sat down together with the plans in front of us, we could identify conflicts and solutions much more rapidly.” CRUISE SHIP COMFORT With quarters for 150 — 14 crew and 136 passengers — in 24 one-person and 63 two-person cabins, each with a private head, the Harvey Sub-Sea resembles a cross between a large supply/support vessel and a cruise ship. All staterooms have their own flat-screen televisions with access to satellite TV. The staterooms are fitted with natural-finish red oak fittings and furniture, the walls are lined with soundinsulating mineral-wool-core panels, and the main and “A” deck floors with Sikafloor Marine PK-90 sound-reducing flooring.
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By Max Hardberger, Correspondent, and David Krapf, Editor-in-Chief
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Harvey Sub-Sea/ Harvey Blue-Sea
Passengers, as well as the crew, can enjoy movies and other programs in the vessel’s dedicated cinema room and lounge, workouts in the well-equipped gym, and personal internet access throughout the vessel on its KVH satellite internet system. The luxury hotel feel is accentuated by the vessel’s VingCard reader system for all interior doors. “Carrying one plastic card for all doors makes my job a lot easier,” said Capt. Chris “Seafog” Fogg. “I’d hate to fall overboard with one of those old-fashioned key rings.” One of the vessels’ most important missions will be ROV support, and the space devoted to that mission is
considerable. Beside the vast ROV bay stretching the width of the vessel, with 32'6"-high roll-up doors on each side, there are four different interior rooms for ROV operations (online room, offline room, conference room, and a lounge). “To handle the heat from the electronics in the online control room, it has its own dedicated air-conditioning system,” said Verret. Two launch-and-recovery systems (LARS) allow operation of ROVs up to 250 hp, ranging to depths of 4,000 meters. With so many systems at work, an integrated approach to monitoring and
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
control is provided by the Wärtsilä electronics systems that coordinate power, maneuvering, and customersupport operations. The vessels’ DP-2 system controls the machinery. For main propulsion, there’s two Schottel SRP 3030 azimuthing fixed-pitch-propeller (FPP) stern drives, powered by variable frequency drive (VFD) motors, producing a total of 8,978 hp. There’s also three Schottel STT 5 fixed-pitchpropeller bow tunnel thrusters, powered by VFD motors, that produce a total of 6,035 hp. Four Wärtsilä 6L32 generators provide 12,680-kW of electrical power to the vessel’s 690-volt system. The power package gives each vessel
All photos by Max Hardberger
WorkBoat’s 2017 Boat of the Year.
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WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
HARVEY SUB-SEA/HARVEY BLUE-SEA Builder: Eastern Shipbuilding Group Designer: Vard Marine Owner: Harvey Gulf International Marine Mission: Multipurpose support vessel Length: 340' Beam: 73' DWT: 5,737 (LT) Depth: 29'3" Maximum Draft: 24'6" Main Propulsion: (2) Schottel SRP 3030 azimuthing stern drive, FPP in nozzle, VFD motor, 4,489 hp Thrusters: (3) Schottel STT5 bow tunnel thruster, FPP in nozzle, VFD motor, 2,012 hp Ship’s Service Power: (4) Wärtsilä 6L32 generator engine, 3,170 kW Speed: 13 knots (maximum); 10 knots (cruise) Hull Construction: Steel Crew capacity: 14 Passenger Capacity: 136 Working Deck: 174'x72'6", 2,600-ton capacity, steel, with covered moonpool Electronics: Raytheon Anschütz workstations; chart radar; X-band transceiver; S-band transceiver; Furuno FAX-408 weather facsimile; Raytheon Anschütz steering repeater; Saab R5 DGPS receiver; Raytheon Anschütz NautoPilot 5300; Interschalt bridge navigation watch alarm system; Skipper GDS101 echo sounder; JRC NCR-333 NAVTEX receiver; SAILOR deck stand MF/HF GMDSS radio system;
a top speed of 14 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. In choosing DP-2 over DP-3, Verret said that it made economic sense. “There aren’t too many OSVs with DP3,” he explained. “It doesn’t offer any greater precision, only another level of redundancy. The Harvey Sub-Sea has multiple levels of redundancy already, and what’s a reasonable expense on a $700-million semisubmersible (drilling rig) isn’t necessarily a reasonable expense on a $100-million OSV.” In today’s cutting-edge OSV wheelhouses, color monitors and digital displays have replaced dials and gauges. All vessel systems feed into bridge and engine-room touch-screen displays that allow operators to monitor all systems from both positions, including tank levels, valve positions, engine operating status, history, and PMS (planned maintenance system) records. Wärtsilä engineers ashore can even monitor the system’s performance remotely through the vessel’s internet connection. 4
SPECIFICATIONS
SSAS Inmarsat Mini-C Sailor 6110 GMDSS; Kongsberg K-Pos DP-21, DPS-2; Kongsberg HiPAP 500 serial line/LAN; CyScan Mk4 laser Tankage (gals.): Diesel, 280,257; potable water, 116,247; drill water, 929,389 Ancillary Equipment/Systems: (1) National Oil Well Varco 250-ton knuckle-boom crane with active heave compensation; (2) 250-hp ROV/LARS systems; Helidex Offshore helideck; Ansul foam-dispensing fire monitor on helideck Classification/Certification: ABS †A1, HELIDK, Offshore Support Vessel (Heavy Lift), Circle E, †AMS, †ACCU, †DPS 2, NBLES, ENVIRO+, GP, UWILD, MLC - ACCOM, MLC 2006, SPS 2008; USCG certification: Subchapter I, Subchapter L; SOLAS Delivery Date: Harvey Sub-Sea, April 2017; Harvey Blue-Sea, October 2017
“The redundancy is what impresses me the most,” said Chris Robinson, one of the vessel’s duty engineers. “You can get on the (control) panels and get just about whatever you want done in
a number of ways. And the time saving could be critical. Being able to watch all the tank levels and engine data from here and then make control input immediately is a real safety feature.”
A 250-ton knuckle-boom crane mounted on the afterdeck has the ability to work at depths of 13,000'.
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
NEW CONSTRUCTION • REPAIRS • CONVERSIONS
2200 Nelson Street, Panama City, FL 32401 Tel: 850-763-1900 ext 3216 Fax: 850-763-7904 Email: sberthold@easternshipbuilding.com www.easternshipbuilding.com
Robert L. Gwinn III of Harvey Gulf International Marine, LLC (third right) with the Eastern team at the International WorkBoat Show
Significant Boats
THE HARVEY SUB-SEA/HARVEY BLUE-SEA NAMED THE 2017 BOAT OF THE YEAR AT THE INTERNATIONAL WORKBOAT SHOW
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Abundance and Harvest Liquefied ammonia transport ATB from Vigor and Nichols.
By Ken Hocke, Senior Editor
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barrage of naval architect/marine engineering firms had their hands in the production of the first complex liquefied ammonia transport barge built in the U.S. for the Jones Act trade since 1982. Among them were Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering Co. (tug and barge contract design), Glosten (barge production design), and BMT (tug production design). In June, Vigor delivered the 508'×96'×51' Harvest, the first complex liquefied ammonia transport barge built in the U.S. for the Jones Act trade since 1982. The vessel was built for The Mosaic Co., an integrated producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash. The company mines phosphate rock from nearly 200,000 acres of Mosaic-owned land in Central Florida and mine potash from four mines in North
America, primarily in Saskatchewan, Canada. Mosaic’s products are processed into crop nutrients, and then shipped via rail, barge and ocean-going vessel to customers in the major agricultural centers of the world. The Harvest is operated by a subsidiary of Savage Companies as part of an articulated tug and barge (ATB) unit. During the construction process, the project supported approximately 1,500 jobs and involved close to a million labor hours at Vigor facilities in Oregon and Washington and subcontractors throughout the region, Frank Foti, Vigor’s CEO, said. Teams used 9,000 tons of U.S. rolled steel to complete the tank barge. Careful integration of various complex systems was required to support the Harvest’s state-of-theart, onboard re-liquefaction plant that keeps cargo
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
Vigor
The first complex liquefied ammonia transport barge built in the U.S. for the Jones Act trade since 1982.
WorkBoat Awards
ABUNDANCE AND HARVEST
SPECIFICATIONS
Builder: Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (tug)/Vigor (barge) Designer: Robert Allan Ltd. (tug and barge contract design), Glosten (barge production design), BMT (tug production design) Operator: Savage (for The Mosaic Co.) Mission: Complex liquefied ammonia transport Length: 139' (tug); 508' (barge) Beam: 44' (tug); 96' (barge) Depth (molded): 19' (tug);51' (barge) Main Propulsion: (2) EMD 16-710T13, 4,000 hp @ 900 rpm Ship’s Service Power: (2) Caterpillar C7.1, 200 kW; Cat C7.1, 100-
kW emergency generator Thruster (barge): Schottel waterjet bowthruster, 2,000 hp Propellers: Rolls-Royce in nozzles Hull Construction: Steel Capacities (barge): 22,000 tons liquid anhydrous ammonia Pin System: Articouple Classification/Certification (tug): ABS classed unrestricted ocean pushing and towing services; USCG certified, Subchapter I Delivery Date: June 2017
In 2016, Mosaic operated three potash mines in Canada, including two shaft mines with a total of three production shafts and one solution mine, as well as one potash shaft mine in the U.S. The company also owns related refineries at each of the mines. Construction of its new Saskatchewan potash operation, Esterhazy K3, remains on target, with work expected to continue into 2024. Upon completion of K3, Mosaic's Esterhazy operation is expected to be the largest, most competitive underground potash mine in the world. Mosaic is committed to building strong relationships with the communities that surround its operations. First Nations and Métis people are an important part of the community in Saskatchewan, Canada. Many Indigenous communities, particularly those
Nichols Brothers Boat Builders
cooled to -27° F. Vigor subcontractor JH Kelly, Longview, Wash., was a key partner in the effort, providing the onboard electrical work as well as fabrication and installation of the cargo piping systems for the plant. The new barge is ABS classed and U.S. Coast Guard certified. The Harvest has four cargo tanks with a capacity of 22,000 tons of liquid anhydrous ammonia. Each cargo tank is fully insulated for cargo management at the temperature range of -25°C to -27°C. Eight deep well cargo pumps provide each tank with two redundant pumping means and can complete full discharge in 22 hours. Each cargo tank has an instrument dome, allowing access to all equipment, measurement means, and ability to isolate a single tank if required. The vent mast exceeds the requirements for minimum safe distance if ammonia is released and is also equipped with water spray for aiding in knocking down an ammonia release. Deck equipment includes two 158,000-lb. drum mooring winches, dual anchor handling equipment, each with 10 shots of chain (each shot is 90') and two 12,000-lb. anchors. The 139'×44'×19' Ocean-class tug Abundance built at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash., pushes the Harvest around in U.S. waters. Nichols delivered the Abundance on June 30 to support operations of Tampa Port Services LLC, a subsidiary of The Mosaic Company.
Significant Boats of 2017
in Treaty 4 territory, neighbor its potash facilities. The U.S.-flagged, Subchapter I tug is ABS-classed and registered to meet all rules and regulations for unrestricted ocean pushing and towing services. Main propulsion for the tug comes from two EMD 16-710T13 diesel engines, producing 4,000 hp at 900 rpm each, connected to Rolls-Royce propellers in Rolls-Royce high efficiency nozzles through Lufkin RHS 3200 reduction gears and are equipped with Rolls-Royce Promas FMP flap rudders. Ship’s service power is provided by two Caterpillar C7.1 200-kW Tier 3 generators, plus one Cat C9.3 200-kW Tier 3 generator-mounted fire pump and one Cat C7.1 128-kW Tier 3 emergency generator system.
139' tug was built at Nichols in Freeland, Wash.
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WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Argo, Carina, Cetus and Hydrus A quartet of new ferries to serve San Francisco Bay
By Kirk Moore, Associate Editor
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new class of $15.1-million, 400-passenger ferries is the leading edge of a $175 million program to expand the public San Francisco Bay Ferry system. The 134'×38'×6'6" Hydrus was the first to arrive, followed by sistership Cetus in July, with the Carina and Argo scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2018. The ferry operator, the Water Emergency Transportation Authority, plans to replace and expand its fleet of 11 vessels to 16, with faster boats and more passenger capacity. With its ultra-clean engines, the Hydrus class from Vigor Marine, Ballard, Wash., and Pacific Power Group, Kent, Wash., is also leading the way in low emissions technology for U.S. ferries. Nominally rated to meet the Environmental Protection Agency Tier 3 air quality standard, the
propulsion package delivers Tier 4 performance with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust aftertreatment system developed by PPG. The ferries are powered by a pair of MTU 12V4000M64 engines, each producing 1,950 hp @ 1,800 rpm. The engines turn two Michigan Wheel, 50"×54", 5-bladed propellers through ZF 7600 gears with 2.565:1 reduction ratios. The package gives the Hydrus-class ferries a 27-knot service speed. The company will supply the first Tier 4 engines delivered for the U.S. ferry market when Dakota Creek Industries Inc., Anacortes, Wash., builds the next class of 445-passenger ferries for WETA. Those 114' catamarans will be powered with MTU 16V4000 Tier 4 engines, driving HamiltonJet H801 waterjets for a service speed of 34 knots. “These boats (Hydrus class) were right on the
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
Vigor Marine
The Cetus is second in a new class of 400-passenger ferries for San Francisco Bay.
WorkBoat Awards
SPECIFICATIONS
Builder: Vigor Marine Designer: Incat Crowther Owner: San Francisco Bay Ferry/ Water Emergency Transportation Authority Length: 134' Beam: 38' Draft: 6'6" Main Propulsion: (2) MTU 12V4000M64, 1,950 hp @ 1,800 rpm Propeller: (2) Michigan Wheel, 50”x54", 5-bladed Marine Gear: (2) ZF 7600, 2.565:1 Speed: 27 knots (service) Ship’s Service Power: (2) John Deere-generator drive engines, 99 kW Capacities (gals.): Fuel, 3,000; potable water, 500 Hull Construction: Aluminum
Gross Tonnage: 95 Passenger/Bike Capacity: 400; 50 bikes Electronics: Furuno electronics suite; Rose Point nav software; Icom IC-M604 VHF Classification: USCG Subchapter K Delivery Date: March 2017
The wheelhouse control panel has lever controls instead of a wheel for steering, and engine controls that can switch from the main panel to the captain’s chair. Flat panel displays monitor levels of fuel, the urea used in the SCR aftertreatment system, fresh water and sewage. Passenger amenities include public wifi and plentiful charging ports so commuters can start work on their way in. In a city where bicycles are part of the daily commute for many, the boats have integrated rack storage for up to 50 bikes, positioned for easy boarding and exit.
Vigor Marine
cusp of Tier 4,” said Bill Mossey, PPG vice president. “Anyone building a boat in the U.S. for that class must build to Tier 4 final.” PPG is the longtime power supplier for San Francisco Bay Ferry. Its emissions solution for the new boats is getting attention from other operators, especially those working in California, where ports like Oakland and Long Beach are setting their own stricter emission control plans that will affect the workboat sector. The design team of WETA, Incat Crowther, Vigor and PPG came up with a boat that has won praise from ferry captains. The long, slender hull design, and engines and house fastened with isolation mounts, make for a smooth and quiet ride. “That takes a lot of the vibration out,” said Jim Gow, senior project manager for Vigor. “The superstructure has 180 isolation mounts. We call it the floating house.” “You don’t feel any vibration. It’s like being in a plane on the water,” said WETA Capt. Dushan Crawford. He likes the all-around visibility of the wheelhouse too. “It’s 360 degrees so you can see the deckhand astern telling you it’s safe to back down,” he said. “You can see where your crew is at all times.”
Vigor Marine
HYDRUS-CLASS
Significant Boats of 2017
The Hydrus-class vessels have twice the passenger capacity of WETA’s Gemini class that carry 198 to 225 passengers. Adding seats on the water is one way Bay Area planners are looking to ease the region’s transit troubles, where overtaxed road and rail systems helped push a whopping 78% increase in ferry ridership from 2012 to 2016. Future plans call for doubling the number of ferry terminals to 16 by 2035, and operating 44 ferries running at 15-minute intervals on the busiest routes. That would be able to handle five times the 2016 average daily ridership of 7,583.
The ferry Hydrus prior to delivery to San Francisco Bay Ferry.
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WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Arkansas, Mardi Gras and South Carolina Crescent Towing’s 5,500-hp harbor tugs.
By Ken Hocke, Senior Editor
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he widening of the Panama Canal and an expected increase in grain exports played a part in New Orleans-based Crescent Towing’s decision to build the 92'×38'×17' Z-drive tugs Arkansas, Mardi Gras, and South Carolina. The 5,500-hp tugs were designed by Jensen Maritime, Seattle, and built at Steiner Shipyard, Bayou La Batre, Ala. “Yes, the post-Panamax tonnage into Savannah helps with that decision [to build the new tugs],” said Keith Kettenring, Crescent’s executive vice president. Crescent Towing and Salvage was established on May 7, 1942, by the Smith family of New Orleans. After establishing itself as a tug provider on the Mississippi River, 37 years later, Crescent Towing opened its doors in Mobile, Ala., in 1979. In 1983, Crescent Towing’s parent group at the time, T. Smith and Son, merged with Coo-
per Stevedoring to form Cooper/T. Smith Inc. Shortly following the Cooper/T. Smith merger, on Dec. 20, 1985, Crescent Towing established its operations in Savannah, Ga. Though Steiner Shipyard has built few tugs in its more than 50 years of operation, Russell Steiner, the yard’s owner said he didn’t hesitate to go after the job. “We had only done four or five tugs before this, but we really wanted to build these Z-drive tugs,” he said. “We knew what we were doing.” Said Kettenring, “This project was a first for Steiner Shipyard and a leap of faith into the unknown for Crescent. However, we were all placed at ease after our kick-off meeting when it became apparent that Steiner shared the same customercentric philosophy which we hold dear.” Steiner said he wanted to build the tugs because
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
Crescent Towing
Beefier tugs were needed to handle the larger ships coming into New Orleans and Savannah, Ga.
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Owner: Crescent Towing Builder: Steiner Shipyard Inc. Designer: Jensen Maritime Mission: Escort tug Length: 92' Beam: 38' Draft: 17.2' Main Propulsion: (2) GE 8L-250 diesel engine Bollard Pull: 70 tons Z-Drive: (2) Rolls-Royce 255 Ship’s Service Power: (2) John Deere-powered gensets, 99 kW Hull Construction: Steel Capacities (gals.): Fuel, 34,360; potable water, 4,180 Ancillary Equipment: JonRie F230 Container Master escort winch;
he knew Z-drives would give Crescent the flexibility it needed in the new tugs. “The maneuverability you get with Z-drives makes a huge difference,” Steiner said. He speaks from experience, hav-
SPECIFICATIONS
Crescent Towing
ARKANSAS, MARDI GRAS, SOUTH CAROLINA
John Deere-powered fire monitor, 4,100 gpm at 110 psi Classification/Certification: ABS classed Maltese Cross A-1 Towing, AMS, Full Ocean Service, International Loadline, Escort Rating Delivery Date: Mardi Gras, April 2016; Arkansas, November 2016; South Carolina, December 2016
ing built a series of 120'×34' Z-drive towboats for Southern Towing Co., Memphis, over the past decade. At the time, no one else was putting Z-drives on towboats. Southern officials said the Z-drives provide a lot more thrust for
the same horsepower as conventional drives. “We had fewer problems building those boats than we did building shrimp boats,” said Steiner. With Z-drives there are no big rudders, no struts. And the Z-drive is
Proud Builder of the MV Mardi Gras, MV Arkansas, MV South Carolina built for Crescent Towing
8640 Hemley Street, Bayou La Batre, AL 36509 • 251-824-4143
www.steinershipyard.com
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WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
always going forward, even when the boat is going in reverse. That is the kind of maneuverability Crescent was looking for, said Steiner. The new Crescent tugs are fitted with pairs of steerable Rolls-Royce US255FP Z-drive units connected to twin Tier 3 GE 8L250 diesel engines, producing 2,748 hp each. The engines turn P-30 2,800-mm fixed pitch propellers in nozzles. The units have hydraulic clutches and weld-in mountings, Vulkan carbon fiber straight shafting, Vulkan bulkhead mounted shaft bearings and Vulkan flywheel mounted flexible couplings. In the wheelhouse are mounted engine and thruster controls. One of the challenges in working on the Mississippi River is operating during high-water events. The maneuverability of the new tugs makes fighting high water more manageable, said Kettenring. “In the spring the river swells with rain and snow melt and the
increased velocity can cause ships to break-out, and they often require tugs to hold them in berth or anchorage,” he said. The river handles a wide range of ship types and sizes: bulk carriers, tankers, general cargo, container, and passenger ships. It’s Crescent Towing’s largest operating port, where its services include ship escort, docking, and undocking from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge, La. Vessels of all types and configurations come to Mobile not only for trade, but also for ship modifications at one of Mobile’s major shipbuilding and repair facilities. Crescent provides towing services including ship escort, docking, undocking, and hawser work. Its Mobile fleet is configured specifically for the extra maneuverability and strength required to handle slip and drydock berthing. Its operations office is staffed round-the-clock everyday of the year.
JonRie Electric
Savannah is one of the leading U.S. ports on the East Coast. Crescent offers full towage at the port, including hip LNG ship assist, docking, undocking, and tug escort from the mouth of the Savannah River to the many piers upriver. Its state-of-the-art tug fleet sets the pace with the latest and most powerful equipment in the region. Crescent’s Savannah office operates around-the-clock, every day. JonRie InterTech, Manahawkin, N.J., introduced its new Container Master winch series on the Mardi Gras. The Container Master series was designed with increased braking capability and rope capacity to deal with larger containerships, such as the 8,000-TEU containerships that call at the port of New Orleans. The new winch series is a heavy-duty design to deal with increased loading due to the increased sail area of today’s containerships, according to JonRie.
WWW.WORKBOAT.COM NEWS FOR THE COMMERCIAL MARINE INDUSTRY.
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www.marinewinch.com
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www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
MAN D2862 LE
CONGRATULATIONS CATLETT.
For being elected “Significant Boat 2017” by the Workboat Magazine. The hydrographic survey vessel Catlett is owned by the Corps of Engineers, build and designed by Technology Associates Inc.. Two MAN D2868 LE426 with an output of 1,000 hp each at 2,300 rpm bring the 61 ft. vessel to a top speed of 38 knots. This is the second year in a row, that a MAN powered boat makes it under the top 10. Last year the first US flagged windfarm vessel - Atlantic Pioneer made it on the list as well. To find the commercial engine tailored to your needs, visit www.man-engines.com.
AR YE W. ED AS ND RO ER D T. CO A W TE OA SE IN PO LEC T B AN E AN M EL IC SS IF VE IGN S
Workboat engine
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Catlett
Fast foil-assist survey vessel for the Corps.
By Kirk Moore, Associate Editor
14
A
fast boat with long legs is a must for the Corps of Engineers’ hydrographic survey work in the Chesapeake Bay region. The design-build solution from Technology Associates Inc. (TAI) and Aluma Marine and Fabrication LLC is the Catlett, a foil-assisted catamaran that flies on the water at more than 38 knots. TAI, a New Orleans-based maritime solutions company was the prime contractor on the project, with its people working side-by-side with Aluma’s craftsmen at Aluma’s Harvey, La., facility to build the vessel for the Corps’ Baltimore District. The 61'4"×23'11" Catlett supports the Baltimore District's mission of ensuring safe navigation on channels in and out of the Port of Baltimore and other channels throughout the region by mapping channel depths. Keeping the channels navigable is
a necessity to the region's economy. The engineering company does not have its own shipyard, but TAI has used this approach to work with other builders on its specialized projects. The Catlett is a design that is “out of the comfort zone” for many shipyards, said Anil Raj, TAI’s president. “It’s a boat that once it gets up on step flies on foils. So the weight control, the foil design and balance, so it flies properly, are pretty critical. “If you screw it up by even 500 lbs. that boat doesn’t work. It’s a belly flop. Most aluminum yards would not even touch that.” TAI orders and cuts the aluminum, and has its own base work crew of 15 to 16 including certified welders. The company’s quality assurance and safety programs tend to be more demanding
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
Cynthia Mitchell
The Catlett is a 61' hydrographic survey vessel.
WorkBoat Awards
SPECIFICATIONS
Builder: Technology Associates Inc. and Aluma Marine and Fabrication LLC Designer: Technology Associates Inc. Owner: Corps of Engineers Length: 61'4" Beam: 23'11" Draft: 3'2.5" Main Propulsion: (2) MAN V8-1000 CR, 970 hp @ 2,300 rpm Marine Gear: (2) ZF 500 Propulsion: (2) HamiltonJet HJ 403 waterjet Controls: HamiltonJet MECS Generator: (2) Kohler 15EKOZD, 15 kW, 120/240V Speed: 10 knots (survey); 38 knots (top) Hull Construction: Aluminum Capacities (gals.): Fuel 1,052; fresh water 115; gray and black
than at most shipyards, said Raj. The boat was designed and built to Lloyd’s Special Service Craft rules. The Baltimore District provides water resource planning and engineering design and construction support focused on navigation, flood risk management and environmental restoration. The Corps work includes construction and operation of dams that help reduce flood risks, provide recreation, environmental stewardship, and water supply; dredging of major waterways; and construction of local flood risk management projects. The Baltimore District’s Civil Works boundaries, covering the Chesapeake Bay Basin and the Susquehanna and Potomac river watersheds, extend from Maryland to New York. In total, the district’s responsibilities cover 49,000 square miles in six states and the District of Columbia, two watersheds, and 7,000 miles of coastline. Along these waterways, the Baltimore District operates and maintains 290 miles of federal navigation channels, 148 miles of federally constructed levees, and 15 federal flood risk management dams and reservoirs. The Catlett supports the Baltimore District’s mission of ensuring safe navigation on channels in and out of the Port of Baltimore as well as on
Technology Associates
CATLETT
Significant Boats of 2017
water, 50 Ancillary Equipment: Sonic 2024 multibeam sonars and single frequency sonars mounted inside a retractable survey pod Electronics: Furuno radars, NAVnet TZTouch, GPS, AIS Delivery Date: September 2017
dozens of other channels throughout the region by mapping channel depths. Keeping these channels open is critical to the region’s estimated 34,000 jobs that stem from the cargo that transits the Port of Baltimore. In order for a Corps project to be implemented through the Civil Works program, the Corps must first receive Congressional authorization and then it must receive Congressional funding. The district’s Technical Service Programs offer federal assistance for technical assistance and analyses and smaller projects without the need for Congressional authorization. The district’s work includes dredging, employing cutting-edge technology to conduct underwater surveys, and applying its fleet of debris removal vessels to clear floating hazards out of the federal channels in Baltimore Harbor and the Potomac River. Hydrographic surveys are the primary mission of the Catlett, using Sonic 2024 multibeam sonars and single beam sonars mounted inside a retractable pod. A hydrographic winch on deck handles other mission gear. The wheelhouse electronics suite is from Furuno. Twin 970-hp MAN V8-1000 CR engines drive two HamiltonJet HJ
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
403 waterjets through ZF 500 gears, for survey slow speeds up to 10 knots and dash speed in excess of 38 knots. A 1,000-gal. fuel tank allows an operating range up to 400 nautical miles. There is a galley, mess and sleeping accommodations for a crew of four. Capacities include 115 gals. fresh water and 50 gals. black and gray waste water. The project came in on time and on budget. The Catlett is the first in a trio of similar boats. The other two survey vessels will be based at the Corps’ base at Norfolk, Va., at the south end of the Chesapeake, and at Mobile, Ala. TAI’s foil assist design affords high speed and fuel efficiency with minimal installed horsepower. The company has a patrol boat variant design, and can adapt it to the interdiction, search and rescue, and coastal and harbor patrol roles. At the dedication ceremony for the vessel in August 2017, Baltimore District Commander Col. Ed Chamberlayne said: “It takes a fleet of uniquelydesigned vessels, as well as experts, to perform our important navigation mission.” The vessel is named for the late Harold Catlett Jr., who served as a hydrographic surveyor with the Baltimore district for about 30 years.
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WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Cleveland
Great Lakes Towing’s Damen Stan Tug 1907.
By Ken Hocke, Senior Editor
16
B
uilding the 63'×24' tug Cleveland was something of a learning experience. Several European working practices had to be translated into their U.S. equivalents, and numerous adaptations had to be made to meet U.S. regulations. That’s because the first of 10 Stan Tug 1907 ICE tugboats comes from a Damen Shipyards Group design and was built by Great Lakes Shipyard for its sister company, The Great Lakes Towing Co., located in Cleveland. Named for the company’s hometown, the Cleveland, which has a 10' draft and is under 100 GT, is a significant milestone in a licensing program between Damen and Great Lakes Shipyard that began in 2014. The initial agreement is for 10 tugs for Great Lakes Towing, but the design will also be avail-
able to third-party buyers on a priority basis. The Stan Tug 1907 ICE is a compact design capable of 30 tons of bollard pull. Its relatively small size and high maneuverability design make it a good fit for narrow waterways with their many low bridges that characterize the Great Lakes region. The ability to operate safely in icy waters is also essential given the very cold temperatures that occur in the northern Ohio city in the winter. Main propulsion comes from a pair of MTU 8V4000 M54R diesels, producing 1,000 hp at 1,600 rpm each. The mains connect to 3-bladed, 71"-dia. Kaplan-style wheels in Kort nozzles through Twin Disc MG-5321 quick shift marine gears with 5.45:1 reduction ratios. “The feedback has been very positive. One of the pilots on the first day even commented that
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
Damen Shipyards Group
The tug was designed and built for operation on the Great Lakes.
Proud to provide Significant power. Congratulations to the Cleveland and Gladys B tugboats, along with the Argo, Carina, Cetus and Hydrus ferries. MTU is proud to provide reliable engines and systems to three of WorkBoat’s 10 Significant Boats of 2017.
Series 4000
CLEVELAND
Significant Boats of 2017
SPECIFICATIONS
Builder: Great Lakes Shipyard Designer: Damen Shipyards Group Owner: The Great Lakes Towing Co. Mission: Ship assist, icebreaking and harbor operations Length: 63'5" Beam: 24'2" Depth (molded): 11'1" Draft: 10' Main Propulsion: (2) MTU 8V4000 M54R, 1,000 hp @ 1,600 rpm Bollard Pull: 30 tons Marine Gear: (2) Twin Disc MG-5321, 5.45:1 Propellers: (2) Promarin GMBH 3-bladed, 71"-dia. Kaplan style in Kort nozzle Ship’s Service Power: John Deere 4045T generator engine/Marathon MAGNA plus generator Controls: Twin Disc, Quick Shift Steering System: Beier Integrated Systems
the new tug made maneuvering much easier. The boat has performed even better than we expected, without the
The Stan Tug 1907 ICE is a compact design capable of 30 tons of bollard pull The Great Lakes Shipyard Group
WorkBoat Awards
Speed (knots): 11 Crew Capacity: 2 (four berths) Capacities (gals.): Fuel, 6,976; lube oil, 290; fresh water, 1,205 Electronics: Beier Integrated Systems electronics suite Ancillary Equipment/Systems: Hiller Systems Sapphire Novec 1230 fire suppression system Hull Construction: Steel Classification/Certification: ABS classed, USCG certified, Subchapter M Delivery Date: June 2017
need for the typical ‘tweaks’ that are normally required after completion of a new tug,” Joe Starck, president of
Great Lakes Shipyard and Great Lakes Towing, said in a statement announcing the delivery.
TUG CLEVELAND DAMEN STAN 1907 ICE
G R E AT L A K E S
EXCEPTIONAL TEAMWORK. SIGNIFICANT RESULTS. DESIGNED BY GLOBAL INNOVATORS — BUILT BY AMERICAN CRAFTSMEN — PROUD PARTNERS OF THE 1
ST
GREAT LAKES SHIPYARD
ABS CERTIFIED, USCG SUBCHAPTER M COMPLIANT TUG
THEGREATLAKESGROUP.COM DAMEN.COM
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11/21/17 3:12 PM www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
Maximum View & Control Innovative bridge ergonomics
AlphaBridge on the Robert Allan Ltd designed hybrid RotorTugŠ RT Evolution
www.jrc.am
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Earl W Redd
Harley Marine’s new tug is first with Cat Tier 4 engines.
By Michael Crowley, Correspondent
20
T
he Earl W Redd is working the California coast for Harley Marine Services. Jensen Maritime Consultants designed 120'×35'×19'3" tug, which was built to ABS loadline standards at Diversified Marine Inc., Portland, Ore. The tug is set up to “do any type of rescue towing offshore, also possibly some ship assist work,” said Steve Carlson, vice-president of engineering at Harley Marine in Seattle. Like much of the Harley fleet, the Earl W Redd has a strong “green” element to it. To find it, you don’t have to look any further than the tug’s engine room where a pair of 2,675-hp at 1,600-rpm Caterpillar 3516C diesels reside. The engines are the first Cat Tier 4-rated diesels to go in a tugboat, Harley said. The Tier 4 rating applies to engines above 804 hp and focuses on reducing two air emission elements: particulate matter by 90% and nitrogen ox-
ide by 80% when compared with Tier 2 engines. Along with reduced emissions, engines with the Tier 4 rating should also offer improved fuel consumption. While some engine manufacturers saw an increase in fuel consumption when ratings went from Tier 2 to Tier 3, that’s not necessarily the case going from Tier 3 to Tier 4. Engine manufacturers “typically say you will save around five to 10 percent” in fuel consumption, said Carlson. Caterpillar meets the Tier 4 requirement by matching up each 3516C diesel with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system. The SCR aftertreatment does mean that adjustments had to be made by the designer and builder to accommodate the system. With the Earl W Redd that meant “reducing the size of a couple of fuel tanks a little bit aft of amidships and cutting into a bit of the machinery space to make room for a pair of urea tanks,” said Lee Boltz, who designed the Redd at Jensen Maritime. The urea tanks have
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
Harley Marine Services
The Earl W Redd’s Tier 4 engines should provide improved fuel efficiency.
WorkBoat Awards
EARL W REDD
Significant Boats of 2017
SPECIFICATIONS
Builder: Diversified Marine Designer: Jensen Maritime Consultants Qwner: Harley Marine Services Mission: Petroleum barge towing Length: 129' Beam: 35' Depth (molded): 19' Draft: 18'7" Main Propulsion: (2) Caterpillar 3516C, Tier 4, 2,675 hp @ 1,600 rpm Ship’s Service Power: (2) 125-kW John Deere-powered genset Z-Drive: (2) Rolls-Royce 255-P30-FP, 1,865 kW @ 1,600 rpm Propeller: (2) 2,600-mm-dia., stainless steel Speed: 12.7 knots (max.); 7.9 knots (average) Hull Construction: Steel
to be stainless steel. Each of the Earl W Redd’s Cat 3516Cs is hooked up to a Rolls-Royce US 255-P30-FP Z-drive. It’s estimated that the power package produces a bol-
The Redd features Rolls-Royce Z-drives. Crew Capacity: 6 to 8 Capacities (gals.): Fuel, 127,000; water, 6,534; lube, 1,137; hydraulic, 1,263 Ancillary Equipment: (2) Stang fire monitor; Markey TESD-34B electric towing winch, 100 hp; Markey DEPC-48 electric hawser winch, 50 hp; Shibata and Schuyler fendering Delivery Date: Feb. 1, 2017
lard pull of 75 short tons ahead and 70 short tons astern, while giving the Redd an average speed of 7.9 knots and a maximum speed of 12.7 knots. The tug has a Markey TESD-34B
100-hp double-drum electric towing winch aft of the wheelhouse, and a Markey DEPC-48 50-hp electric hawser winch with render recovery on the bow.
Expertise in Tier IV Designs Jensen is committed to leading the industry in the production of environmentally friendly designs, balanced with high-quality performance.
To bring Jensen on board for your next project, contact us at 206.332.8090 or visit our website at jensenmaritime.com.
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
Beautiful Designs. Efficient to Build.
Naval Architects & Marine Engineers
Extraordinary to Ope
21
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Gladys B
E.N. Bisso & Sons’ 5,362-hp Z-drive tug.
By Ken Hocke, Senior Editor
22
T
he Gladys B was built at Signet Shipbuilding & Repair in Pascagoula, Miss., in 2016 for E.N. Bisso & Son, New Orleans. The 5,362-hp, 80'×38'×15' azimuth stern drive tug, designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, is powered by two MTU 16V4000 M64, Tier 3 diesels, putting out 2,681hp each. The engines connect to Rolls-Royce US205, fixed pitch Z-drives with 94.49" 4-bladed nibral propellers in Kort nozzles. The propulsion package gives the tug a bollard pull of 60 MT ahead and 56 MT astern. E.N. Bisso is in the business of assisting in the docking and undocking of oceangoing ships and tug/barge combination units. Harbor tug services also include hourly towing, escort, hold-in and standby services as required. The Gladys B started
out as a tug for Signet’s fleet, but E.N. Bisso and Signet had been in discussions about building a new tug, so Bisso decided to buy it before the Tier 4 engine regulations went into effect in 2017. On deck is a Markey DEPGF-42S, 50-hp electric bow winch. There are accommodations for six crewmembers in three staterooms. The Gladys B is classed ABS Maltese Cross A1, Maltese Cross AMS, FiFi Capable, Escort. It is also compliant with the guidelines associated with the Coast Guard’s new Subchapter M regulations. Tugs like the Gladys B have not been subject to Coast Guard inspection in the past. Starting next summer tugs like the Gladys B will be subject to Coast Guard inspection, so E.N. Bisso made sure that the new tug was built to Subchapter M requirements ahead of the scheduled change.
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
E.N. Bisso & Son
The Gladys B currently operates in the Lower Mississippi River.
WorkBoat Awards
SPECIFICATIONS
Vessel Name: Gladys B Builder: Signet Shipbuilding & Repair Designer: Robert Allan Ltd. Owner: E.N. Bisso & Son Mission: Ship assist, hourly towing, escort, hold-in and standby services Length: 80' Beam: 38' Depth (molded): 15' Main Propulsion: (2) MTU 16V4000 M64, Tier 3, 2,681-hp. Bollard Pull (tugs): 60 MT ahead; 56 MT astern. Z-Drive: (2) Rolls-Royce US205, fixed pitch Propellers: (2) 94.49" 4-bladed nibral in Kort nozzle
Signet bought the shipyard in 2010 with the goal of making it into a firstclass facility. All indications are the yard has met that goal. Shipyard veteran Joe Dahl, Signet’s vice president during the tug’s construction, told the Bisso family that
E.N. Bisso & Son held a christening ceremony on the New Orleans riverfront in September 2017.
Ken Hocke
GLADYS B
Significant Boats of 2017
Hull Construction: Steel Capacities (gals.): Fuel, 28,649; water, 8,756 gals. Classification/Certification: ABS Maltese Cross A1, Maltese Cross AMS, FiFi Capable, Escort, USCG certified, Subchapter M
he had always wanted to build a boat for them, and his dream came true. “The boat has been everything we hoped it would be,” Mike Vitt, E.N. Bisso & Son’s vice president, operations and general counsel, said from the deck of the Gladys B prior to the
September ceremonies. “It’s handling river operations the way we hoped it would. We’re happy with it.” William H. McDonald, E.N. Bisso’s president, appears to be satisfied, as well. “I wish I had two more of them,” he said.
Innovation Design Engineering Analysis Safety
ART 80-98US
High-performance Terminal Berthing/Escort Tug Trident
N AVA L A R C H I T E C T S A N D M A R I N E E N G I N E E R S
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
www.ral.ca designs@ral.ca 1+604-736-9466
23
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
NYC Ferry
New York’s ambitious public ferry project
By Kirk Moore, Associate Editor
24
L
ike a Broadway hit, New York City’s $355 million NYC Ferry public service had a stunning start with one million passengers in just the first three months. More drama ensued: crowded ferries, customer complaints, bankruptcy for one of the boatbuilders, and an early haul-out for six ferries to fix a corrosion issue. But the feat of standing up a totally new big-city ferry service and fleet in such a short time is a first for the industry. “This is the most significant expansion of ferry service in New York City, probably in the country, because it’s happening very fast,” said Inna Guzenfeld, an independent waterfront advocate, as the city sped toward a spring 2017 launch. “If it fails, it will never be attempted again,” she added. “There’s a lot riding on this.”
Working with the fast ferry catamaran designers Incat Crowther, builders Horizon Shipbuilding Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., and Metal Shark, Franklin, La., delivered the first 86'×23', 149-passenger boats in a planned fleet of 20. It was the Gulf shipyards’ first foray into the passenger ferry market — and a big play for French engine manufacturer Moteurs Baudouin, as it pushes its diesels into the higher-horsepower Tier 3 North American market niche. Hornblower subsidiary HNY Ferry Fleet LLC began operating its first route a month early on May 1. Other routes began in June. “Right now Rockaway is running about 100 percent more than anticipated. This is transformative for them,” said Hornblower CEO Terry MacRae when he hosted the Worldwide Ferry Safety
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
NYC Mayor’s Office/Michael Appleton
The first NYC Ferry vessel underway in New York Harbor.
WorkBoat Awards
SPECIFICATIONS
Builder: Horizon Shipbuilding Inc., Metal Shark Designer: Incat Crowther Owner: HNY Ferry Fleet LLC Length: 86' Beam: 26'3" Draft: 4'2" (Rockaway class); 3'3" (River class) Main propulsion: (2) Baudouin 12M26.3, 1,380 hp at 2,100 rpm (Rockaway class); (2) Baudouin 6M26.3, 815 hp at 2,100 rpm (River class) Propeller: (2) Michigan Wheel 42"-dia. nibral (Rockaway class); Michigan Wheel 38"-dia. nibral (River class). Marine Gear: (2) ZF 2050, 2.519:1 Speed (knots): 27 (Rockaway class); 25 (River class)
Association on a ride to the seaside enclave in Queens, one of the farthest commuting treks in the city. “This is not just evolutionary, but revolutionary.” The premise of mass-producing and commissioning a ferry fleet in months was viewed skeptically by some in the industry. Carl Wegener, Metal Shark’s director of commercial sales, said his yard “did a lot of things we borrowed from the automotive industry.” “Basically you take the engineering package to a whole other level,” said Wegener. “Everything is 3-D modeled. Our workers are able to walk through the boat digitally before we ever start construction.” With a ticketing app for smartphones and a big social media effort, Hornblower used both to gather data to adjust scheduling and handle riders’ complaints about delays and crowds. In late summer, the EDC released results from a survey of riders that it said gave NYC Ferry high marks. “Social media is a great place for folks to share feedback, which is usually not positive,” said Cameron Clark, a Hornblower vice president and manager of New York operations. Engaging with riders in online spaces like Twitter helped build those customer relations, and the big data gathered from the ticketing app helped adjust ferry schedules. A couple of 400-passenger ferries leased from private operator New
Kirk Moore
NYC FERRY
Significant Boats of 2017
Hull construction: Aluminum Capacities (gals.): Fuel, 1,000; water, 200 (Rockaway class); fuel, 750 fuel; water 200 (River class) Delivery date: April 2, 2017 (first ferry)
York Waterway helped deal with the summer crush too. EDC officials announced they would upsize the next boats on order to 350 passengers. Cameron said the planners’ decision to start with a flexible fleet of 149-passenger vessels on six planned routes was fiscally responsible for the city, considering how it is “an expansion of this magnitude, when ferries haven’t been expanded like this in a century.” But as ferry advocates touted their success with the public, Horizon was having troubles. In September the company said it had a revenue shortfall in building its two-thirds of the ferry fleet. Nick Beaver, president of Kamcor Inc., who supplied welders and shipfitters to Horizon, estimated he was owed at least $750,000. In late October, Horizon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. “Hornblower’s cost
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
estimate had been close to Horizon’s, “which provided a level of comfort prior to start of production,” Horizon president Travis R. Short said in a statement at the time. But labor costs shot up in meeting “the extremely aggressive delivery schedule,” he said.
25
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Trident, Trinity, Triton Seabulk Towing’s new 5,700-hp Rotortugs.
The first rotortugs to operate in the U.S. were delivered in 2017.
26
F
ort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Seabulk Towing added three Robert Allan (RAL)-designed Rotortugs to its fleet in 2017 — the Trident, Trinity and Triton. After the Rotortugs enjoyed successs in other parts of the world, Seabulk felt it was time for the design to be put to the test in the U.S. Master Boat Builders (MMB), Bayou La Batre, Ala., built the three new 5,700-hp 98'6"×43'6"×15'7" RAL Advanced Rotortug (ART 80-98US) boats. The new tugs feature triangular propulsion designed to deliver optimum maneuverability. Seabulk is a unit of Seacor Holdings Inc. “We went to [Robert Allan] specifically for the Rotortug concept and they met our needs for the U.S. marketplace,” said Anthony Caggiano,
Seabulk’s senior marketing manager. “Seacor has had a long and fruitful relationship with Master Boat Builders, primarily building OSVs. We trust their craftsmanship and professionalism from past newbuilds. We jumped at the chance to build these three state-of-the-art tugboats with their group. “Trident is the first tug built by MBB since the 1980s. This being said the undertaken took a different approach than the process used to build a supply vessel,” said Andre Dubroc, the boatyard’s general manager. “When we accepted the contract we were able to agree that MBB would be able to incorporate our construction techniques into the RAL design. Working closely with Jamie McCarty of RAL, we were able to make the design easier to build, without changing any of the RAL concepts. “This also entailed the installation of equip-
Ken Hocke
By Ken Hocke, Senior Editor
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
Seabulk Towing
TRIDENT/TRINITY/TRITON
ment that MBB had not previously installed such as Schottel Z-drives, JonRie towing/escort winches, and the integrated bridge system provided by Alphatron. MBB had to adapt and understand how an escort tug works out in the field, which differs greatly from a OSV,” Dubroc said. Main propulsion comes from three Caterpillar 3512C, Tier 3 diesel engines, producing 1,910 hp at 1,600 rpm each. The Cats connect to the three Schottel SRP 1210 Z-drives. The propulsion package gives the tugs a running speed of 12.5 knots. Whereas a typical stern-drive tug provides power from just two drive
Builder: Master Boat Builders Designer: Robert Allan Ltd. Owner: Seabulk Towing Mission: Harbor towing and ship assist with escorting duties and emergency towing. Length: 98'6" Beam: 43'6" Depth (molded): 15'7" Draft: 18'6" Main Propulsion: (3) Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3, 1,910 hp at 1,600 rpm Bollard Pull: 80 tons Z-Drive: (3) Schottel SRP 1210 with slipping clutch Ship’s Service Power: (2) Caterpillar 7.1, 150 kW Controls: Alphatron Speed (knots): 12.5 Hull Construction: Steel Crew Capacity: 6
www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
SPECIFICATIONS
Capacities (gals.): Fuel, 52,000; water, 5,000; main engine oil, 865; gear oil, 865 Electronics: (3) Icom M506 with handsfree operation; ocean radar: X-Band JMA5212; river radar: 3CM JMA-610-7; echo sounder: JFE-380-25; autopilot: AlphatronAlpha Seapilot MFC, AIS: JRC JHS-183, BWNAS-Alphatron Ancillary Equipment: Jonrie Intertech forward hawser escort winch series 230 with 450' Samson Saturn 12 2-5/8" (diameter), 8" (circumference) HMPE rope; AFT combination towing and hawser winch series 500 outfitted with 2,100' of 2.25" wire rope and 450' of Saturn 12 2-5/8" Classification/Certification: ABS Maltese Cross A1, AMS, UWILD, Unrestricted Navigation Delivery Date: Trident, January 2017; Triton, June 2017; Trinity, October 2017
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WorkBoat Awards
Significant Boats of 2017
units, the ART has three strategically positioned azimuth propulsion units, offering full redundancy and maximum maneuverability while dividing the installed power among a trio of smaller units that combine for a guaranteed bollard pull of 80 tons, according to Seabulk. Alphatron controls are in the pilothouse. Ship’s service power comes from twin Cat engines sparking 150 kW of electricity each. Seabulk’s Rotortugs are designed to bring to the U.S. market maximum maneuverability and enhanced safety in escorting LNG tankers and other high-demand applications. “MBB has shown its diversity over the years building not only these tugs, but supply vessels, fishing vessels, factory processors, and basically anything that floats,” said Dubroc. “We recently were awarded a contract to build six ATBs which should show more of our ability to adapt.” Capacities include 52,000 gals. of
fuel; 5,000 gals. water; 865 gals. main engine oil; and 865 gals. gear oil. On deck are two Jonrie Intertech towing winches. The forward hawser escort winch is a Series 230 outfitted with 450' of Samson 12 2-5/8"×8" HMPE rope. The aft combination towing and hawser winch is a series 500 outfitted with 2,100' of 2.25" wire rope and 450' of Saturn 12 2-5/8". Trident, the first of the three to be delivered, found a home immediately at Port Everglades, a hit with Seabulk’s captains and even its competitors. “Each captain has their own way of running the vessel but so far all reports have been positive. She is really a valuable asset to our Port Everglades harbor assist fleet,” said Caggiano. “We’ve had our competitors onboard and they are highly impressed, which is a huge compliment to us.” The captains like the new tug, particularly its ability to work at multiple angles with power to spare. “They
work her bow and stern regularly with zero complaint. The living quarters are also mentioned as a definite highlight,” said Caggiano. “So far her performance has met and exceeded expectations.” Rotortugs furnish the latest technology for safe, dependable operations even under the most challenging of circumstances, according to H. Rick Groen, president, operations, Seacor Ocean Transport. “As the U.S. LNG market continues to grow, we definitely see increasing demand for such versatile ARTs. “We have made a conscious decision to introduce the Advanced Rotortug in the United States because we believe they represent the next generation of highly maneuverable tugs that provide an ideal solution for LNG export terminals and other applications that demand safe moorings,” Groen added. The new tugs are ABS classed Maltese Cross A1, AMS, UWILD, Unrestricted Navigation.
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www.workboat.com • JANUARY 2018 • WorkBoat Significant Boats
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