HARBOR TOURS

LA Gets USCG Nod for Electric Boat

Port of Los Angeles gets final Coast Guard approval to create first harbor tour vessel retrofitted with Hybrid-Electric propulsion system.     The Port of Los Angeles has received final approval from the U.S. Coast Guard to install a hybrid propulsion system on its 42-year-old harbor tour boat, the Angelena II. Upon completion later this spring, the Angelena II will be the first harbor craft of its kind retrofitted with a hybrid propulsion system that will reduce emissions and fuel usage by more than 95 percent.   Since its construction in 1970, the Angelena II had been powered by two 350-horsepower diesel engines that, as of September 2011, no longer met California emissions requirements. While the Port is spending approximately $200,000 for the cost to replace the existing diesel engines (required by the Coast Guard, for back-up power), the Port applied for and received an approximately $500,000 U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to upgrade the vessel power system to cleaner technology. Installation and repair work is being done by city workers, including electricians, carpenters and others.   “The Angelena II is an invaluable business and public education tool, and now we can also use it to demonstrate yet another emerging technology that can reduce emissions in ports and harbors around the world,” said Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D

VPA Welcomes First Patrol Boat in 10 Years

Allied Shipbuilders of North Vancouver, B.C. delivered the new patrol vessel Takaya to Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) – its first new patrol vessel in 10 years. The vessel’s namesake is attributed to the First Nations people who inhabit Burrard Inlet. Designed by Robert Allan, Naval Architects of Vancouver, under the direction of Hans Muhlert, the new vessel is representative of an investment ensuring that the VPA is able to offer the utmost in services to its clients on an ongoing 24-hour

Gladding-Hearn Delivers Incat-Designed Ferry

Hy-Line Cruises, a division of Hyannis Harbor Tours, Hyannis, Mass., has taken delivery of a new 300 passenger, high-speed catamaran from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, the Duclos Corporation. This is the third Incat-designed fast ferry built by the shipyard for the Cape Cod tourism company, and the twenty-seventh high-speed catamaran built by Gladding-Hearn. The M/VV Grey Lady replaces the smaller Grey Lady II and provides year-round passenger service between Hyannis and Nantucket Island.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Visits Naval Station Pearl Harbor

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael A. Lantron, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, visited more than 500 military personnel assigned to commands throughout the Pearl Harbor area Aug. 17 for an all hands call at Sharkey Theater on Naval Station Pearl Harbor as part of his tour of military bases on the island of Oahu. The visit was part of Pace’s tour of military bases to thank military personnel

Image Marine Wins Dinner Cruise Contract

Image Marine signed a contract to built a 34 m dinner cruise catamaran for Blue Line Cruises of Sydney, Australia for operation in Sydney Harbor. Blue Line, which is part of the Accor Group, currently operates the vessels Sydney Showboats and Majistic along the Harbor. The new vessel will be ready to join the fleet in August 2001. Touring the Harbor by day and night, the aluminum catamaran will boast an approximate cruising speed of five knots

Women’s Maritime Shipping Group to Meet in Seattle

The Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Pacific Northwest Chapter is gathering for a tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Seattle Command Center on August 26, 2011 at 4:00 PM.  Following the tour, the group will relocate to Salty’s on Alki Beach, located at 1936 Harbor Avenue SW, for a social hour.  Contact Cynthia Powell at wistapnw@gmail.com for more information about this event.

Steam Tourboat Season Successful

Lloyd Beckmann, vice-president and co-owner of Beckmann Boatshop, Ltd., announced steam tourboat Laurie Ellen, built at his yard, completed an extended tour season at her home base in Castine, Maine. The 30 ft. long steam launch, which carries 20, provides an informative and interesting trip around the waterfront of Castine Bay, for the Castine Steamboat Company. Captain Randall J. Flood, owner, who operated the vessel during its maiden season, said, "We are pleased with our first season

Divers Find Way Before Visit To Sunken Ship

U.S. Navy divers who hope to recover bodies from a Japanese fishing vessel accidentally sunk by a nuclear submarine toured a similar vessel to learn more about the rooms and passageways where they will work. Two teams of divers and engineers spent seven hours aboard the Kagawa Maru, which has a floor plan similar to the sunken Ehime Maru, during a port visit to Honolulu Harbor. The Ehime Maru sank in 2,000 feet (610 m) of water on Feb

Pearl Harbor Biodiesel Ferry

Naval Station Pearl Harbor and the National Park Service activated the first USS Arizona Memorial biodiesel ferry boat #39-1 John W. Finn during a ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial and Visitor Center April 7. The John W. Finn is the first of five new boats that will ultimately replace the existing 20-year old U.S. Navy-operated tour boats that transport 1.5 million visitors per year to and from the memorial.

Aberdeen Harbor Welcomes First Ship

Aberdeen Harbor welcomed its first cruise vessel as it prepares for 12 expected visits to the city during the summer season. The arrival of the cruise vessel Island Sky, famed for its large suites and spacious outside decks, signals the start of the season when it arrives tomorrow (May 21) for the first of what will be three visits as it tours the Scottish Islands and Scandinavia over the course of the summer. Many of the cruises scheduled on such vessels this year will start and end in