BLOUNT BOATS

New Equipment at Blount Boats

Blount Boats has made significant upgrades to its physical plant thanks mostly to a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation¹s Maritime Administration. These grants benefited a number of shipyards around the country and were made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Thanks to these grants, Blount Boats has installed a significant amount of new capital equipment including a Hydraulic Shear, a Proform Brake Press, a Hydraulic Plate Roller and a Big Swing Lathe among other equipment. Blount was also able to bury its electrical power supply lines, which achieves significant gains in both safety and reliability. According to Marcia Blount, President of Blount Boats, "The overall improvements to our infrastructure are significant and represent the biggest change in our capabilities ever achieved in the relatively short period of nine months. As a result of these changes, we will be more productive than ever and we will be able to make even further strides in our ability to set the highest possible standards in shipbuilding."  

Blount to Construct Excursion Vessel

Blount Boats, Inc. has signed a contract with Wendella Sightseeing Company, Inc. to construct an 89 x 30 ft. steel excursion vessel. The vessel was designed by Timothy Graul Marine Design and will operate in the Chicago area. The 300 passenger vessel will be powered by twin screw Caterpillar engines. Delivery for Hull #320 is scheduled for April 2007 via the Erie Canal.

Bristol to Oversee Two Ferry Newbuilds

Construction is progressing for the new Subchapter “K” passenger ferry vessels, M/V Isleño at Blount Boats, Inc. (BBI), Warren RI and M/V Caribeña at VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VTHMI), Pascagoula, MS. Bristol Harbor Marine Design (BHMD) is serving as a liaison for the Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA), providing construction oversight for the vessels servicing the Fajardo-Vieques-Culebra Ferry Line. On July 15th, 2003, BBI signed a contract with the PRPA to construct a 155-ft

Cayo Largo Deployed to Assist Haitian Relief

Puerto Rico Maritime Transportation Authority (PRMTA) deployed the 300 passenger / 300 ton cargo vessel, M/V Cayo Largo to Barahona, Dominican Republic to assist in the humanitarian effort for Haiti. The vessel, which was designed and built by Blount Boats, Inc. of Warren, R.I., has been in service between the port of Fajardo on the east coast of Puerto Rico and the islands of Culebra and Vieques since her delivery in 2008.

Blount Boats Delivers Sister Ship to Wendella

The 89-ft steel excursion boat, Linnea built by Blount Boats for Wendella Sightseeing Company was completed and accepted on July 20, 2010. The vessel was delivered to Chicago via Erie Canal and began service on July 30th. The delivery for the Linnea is especially timely on account of the fact that Wendella Sightseeing, Chicago’s original tour boat company is celebrating its 75th season as one of the city’s premier sightseeing and tourism venues.  

Rhode Island: Open for Business

Rhode Island’s economic assets include a surprising number of prominent and lesser known maritime firms. A recent media tour hosted by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) highlighted the Ocean State’s key role(s) in the nation’s maritime industry.   As the state of Rhode Island – along with everyone else, so it seems – works to revitalize a struggling local economy

Blount Industries' M/V Grande Mariner

Blount Industries newest cruise ship, M/V Grande Mariner, was built for American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc. It is the second in a new line of Grande Class small cruise ships, built and designed for the American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc. The 183 ft. ship accommodates 100 passengers, and is designed with several ACCL innovations, includinug patented bow ramp, shallow draft and retractable pilot house. Grande Mariner also features super-quiet engines and generators

Passenger Vessels:A New England Shipyard Comes of Age

When MR/EN traveled up to the New England coast this past fall as part of a New England shipyard swing, we were expecting to meet the great one himself — Luther H. Blount — who could be informally known as the "father" of New England shipbuilding. Blount began his career so many years ago with the construction of a 77-ft. steel catamaran, was the first of many greater and more technologically innovative vessels that would later earn the designation as Blount crafted.

Blount-Barker Signs Contract for Whale Watch Catamaran

Blount-Barker Shipbuilding signed a contract with a B.B.O., LLC of Portsmouth, New Hampshire for the construction of a 124 ft. Whale Watch Catamaran for operation in Bar Harbor, Maine. The vessel designed by Crowther Multihulls of Sydney, Australia will operate both seasonal whale watch tours and high-speed commuter service. The 124 ft. x 36 ft. catamaran designed with a main, mid and upper deck will accommodate 444 passengers at a loaded operating speed of 40 knots

Fortuna Awarded As Innovative Yacht

The gas-turbine-powered yacht, Fortuna, was selected for the award, most innovative motor yacht for 2000, during the Eleventh Annual Showboats Awards in Monaco. The yacht, for the Spanish Head of State, was purpose-built from the naval architectural and marine engineering design and specifications developed by Donald L. Blount and Associates, Inc., (DLBA) with offices in Chesapeake, Va. Blount accepted the award in Monaco for the design. Fortuna, with a length of 136 ft