Harbor Tours News

The brand new 600-passenger vessel Enhydra is the largest lithium-ion battery electric hybrid-powered vessel in North America built under “USCG Subchapter K” certification.The recently launched 128-foot LOA aluminum monohull vessel was designed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand and built by All American Marine in Bellingham, Wash. for Red and White Fleet of San Francisco, who will use the vessel to provide harbor tours of San Francisco Bay and the Golden…

All American Marine (AAM) in February announced a deal for the construction of a new hybrid electric, 600 passenger aluminum monohull vessel to be delivered to the Red and White Fleet of San Francisco, Calif. AAM’s latest contract follows an earlier announcement made by the company regarding a construction agreement for a 500 passenger aluminum monohull tour boat for Argosy Cruises of Seattle, Wash. Both operators were originally pursuing construction contracts for steel monohulls…

All American Marine, Inc. (AAM), inked a deal for the construction of a new hybrid electric passenger vessel to be delivered to the Red and White Fleet of San Francisco, California. The contract for the new 600 passenger aluminum monohull was signed during the recent annual Maritrends Conference put on by the Passenger Vessel Association. AAM’s latest contract follows an earlier announcement made by the company regarding a construction agreement for a 500 passenger aluminum monohull tour boat for Argosy Cruises of Seattle, WA.

Forrest Lucas is a proverbial ‘rags-to-riches’ story, emerging from rural Indiana to build a corporate empire. From truck driver to truck fleet owner to oil and media magnate – including naming rights to an NFL stadium – Lucas is the ‘every man’ tycoon with eyes on the commercial maritime market. Talk to Forrest Lucas for five minutes and it is easy to see that his claims to be a ‘regular guy’ – placing honesty and integrity at the forefront of all dealings – is earnest. Rising from modest means, early on Lucas combined an entrepreneurial spirit, a hard work ethic and an inventive mind.

Hy-Line Cruises, a division of Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc., Hyannis, Mass., has taken delivery of Grey Lady IV, a new 493-passenger, high-speed catamaran from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, the Duclos Corporation. The fourth Incat-Crowther fast ferry built by the Mass.-based shipyard for the Cape Cod passenger ferry company is larger and more stylish in design than previous vessels. The new ferry will provide year-round passenger service between Hyannis and Nantucket Island. The new…

Lucas Marine is partnering with Harbor Breeze Corporation to help reduce the yacht charter and cruise company's fuel costs, maintenance and environmental impact in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. Harbor Breeze is one of the largest yacht charter and cruise companies operating within the two busiest ports in the United States. Lucas Marine is a division of Lucas Oil Products, Inc. - leader in the development of high performance lubricants and problem solving additives. Harbor Breeze CEO Dan Salas, has been operating his fleet of marine vessels for more than 20 years.

All American Marine, Inc. (AAM), together with Harbor Breeze Cruises, has announced the completion and delivery of an aluminum catamaran passenger vessel to operate in the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors. The new vessel, M/V La Espada, is a multi-purpose vessel and will provide harbor tours, whale watch cruises, dinner cruises, and charter ferry service to Catalina Island. La Espada, whose name means ‘the sword’, is 83’ x 29.5’ and is certified to carry 250 passengers. Harbor Breeze Cruises previously contracted with All American Marine to build a similar catamaran, the M/V Triumphant, in 2013. The success of the design with both customer appeal and fuel-efficient operations brought Dan Salas…

During the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2016 held January 23-26 in Crystal City, Va., members of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) elected Margo Marks of Beaver Island Boat Company, Beaver Island, Mich. as PVA President for 2016. Margo Marks is President/General Manager of Beaver Island Boat Company, Beaver Island, Mich. The company has provided passenger service, vehicle service and freight service between Beaver Island and Charlevoix, Mich. since 1984. The first ferry service to the island began in 1890.

Long Beach Port is once again giving tourists opportunity to enjoy a rare view of port operations on a free Port of Long Beach harbor tour. The organizers are being welcomed to experience an up-close view of the biggest ships to call in North America and learn about cargo operations, construction projects and environmental initiatives as we build the port of the future. Due to high demand, the 90-minute, narrated harbor tours will start a month early – running from April through September. Tours are scheduled on the first and third Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. and the second and fourth Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Online reservations for April tours will open Monday, Mar. 2 at noon. For all following months, reservations open on the first Monday of the month preceding tour dates.

Hy-Line Cruises, a division of Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc., Hyannis, Mass., has ordered a new 493-passenger, high-speed catamaran from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, the Duclos Corporation. The fourth Incat-Crowther fast ferry built by the Mass.-based shipyard for the Cape Cod passenger ferry company is larger and more stylish in design than previous vessels. The new ferry will provide year-round passenger service between Hyannis and Nantucket Island. Delivery is scheduled for 2016. The new, all-aluminum ferry is about 153.5 feet (46.8 m) long, 34.5 feet (10.5 m) at the beam, and draws approximately 8 feet (2.5 m), loaded. The vessel will be powered by four Cummins QSK60-M, EPA Tier 3 diesel engines, each delivering 2200 Bhp at 1800 rpm.

On Saturday, May 11, more than 30 boats will participate in the 28th Annual U.S. Oil and Refining Seattle Tugboat Race Championships, the largest tugboat race in the world. The race will run from noon to 3 p.m. as part of family fun day at the 2013 Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival, which will take place from Pier 66 and Bell Harbor Marina, 2225 Alaskan Way, Seattle. The race will start at the Grain Terminal, Pier 86, and end at Pier 66. Teams from various maritime businesses will compete from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the WorkBoat World Invitational Boatbuilding Competition at Pier 66.

During the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2013, held February 16 - 19, in Jacksonville, FL, members of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) elected Carolyn Horgan, Blue & Gold Fleet, San Francisco, CA, as PVA President for 2013. Carolyn Horgan is President of Blue and Gold Fleet in San Francisco, CA. Blue & Gold operates 19 vessels in ferry and excursion routes in the Bay Area. The company is also under contract to the Water Emergency Transportation Authority to operate vessels in the Alameda, Oakland, Vallejo and South San Francisco ferry services.

The largest tugboat race in the world, the 27th Annual U.S. Oil & Refining Seattle Tugboat Race Championships, runs from noon to 3 p.m on Saturday May 12th 2012. More than 30 boats will participate in the races, which start at the Grain Terminal, Pier 86, and end at Pier 66. Go here for a full race schedule. Teams from various maritime businesses will compete from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Pacific Maritime Magazine Quick & Dirty Boatbuilding Competition at Pier 66. The teams have just $50 to build a finished craft and win a race later in the day. Judging on the boats is at 3 p.m., with the race at 4 p.m. Other Family Fun Day events include a survival suit contest in Elliott Bay, a competitive chowder cook-off, harbor tours and special activities for children. Admission is free to all events.

<p>Fifteen to 20 tugboats, the maritime 18-wheelers that normally dock ships and push barges, will roar down the Hudson River Sunday morning, September 5, as they vie to be named the fastest boat in their class. The race typically draws thousands of spectators, which is one of the reasons the tug companies enjoy participating. <br /> <br /> &ldquo;New Yorkers sometimes forget they are surrounded by water and that there is a whole maritime industry working here. This tug competition is the one time a year people can really see what we do,&rdquo; said Craig Rising of McAllister Towing and Transportation, one of the largest and oldest tug companies in the country. It is also a field day for the tug crews, many of whom bring their families aboard.

The passenger vessel market is a classic mature marine market. Segments of it are doing well, while other parts have literally died. For example, the overnight segment of the market saw one substantial vessel delivered in 2003 with none on the horizon for 2004. The Empress of the North, a 360-ft. sternwheeler was put into service in September working the West Coast-Alaska route. Now that ice is a problem in Alaska, the vessel is working the Columbia River system in the Northwest U.S. The vessel was the largest vessel ever built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash. and is owned by American West Steamboat Company, Portland, Ore. Developing overnight service is the most difficult part of the passenger vessel industry to get established.

Hy-Line Cruises, a division of Hyannis Harbor Tours, Hyannis Mass., has ordered 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 caps cod tourism company, and the twenty-seventh high-speed catamaran built by Gladding Hearn. The M/V Grey Lady III, scheduled for delivery next year, will replace the smaller Grey Lady II and provide year-round passenger service between Hyannis and Nantucket Island. The new, all-aluminum ferry is 144 ft. (43.7 m), 35 ft. (10.6m) at the beam, and draws 6.5 ft. (2m). It is powered by four Cummins KTA50M2 diesel engines, each delivering 1800 bhp. The vessel is propelled by four Hamilton water jets through Reinjtes WVS730D gearboxes.

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. The new, all-aluminum ferry is 144 ft. (43.7 m) long, 35 ft. (10.6 m) at the beam and draws 6.5 feet (2 m). It is powered by four Cummins KTA50M2 diesel engines, each delivering 1800 Bhp at 1900 rpm. The vessel is propelled by four Hamilton HM651 water jets through Reinjtes WVS730D gearboxes.

The passenger vessel industry continues to be mired in a construction malaise with high-speed passenger only ferries and more conventional passenger auto ferries the only bright spot. The epicenter of the passenger vessel ferry business is the New York City metro area where dozens of new ferries have been added to replace the PATH and other subway lines destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Suddenly "the way to work" for thousands of commuters was severed. Recent deliveries into the area include five 79-foot catamarans for NY Waterway. They are single deck, 149-foot passenger only ferries. The company also has purchased two 340-passsenger fast ferries from NY Fast Ferry. The ramp up in New York City ferry services has not been without difficulties, however.

What do you get when you spend 19 hours at a Fourth of July party onboard a tugboat in NY harbor? A sunburn, welts from hurled bagels, about 12,000 calories and some incredibly good memories, Don Sutherland found. Officially it's Independence Day, but everyone calls it the Fourth of July. Its inalienable rights accrue to the common man, whose life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness necessitate keeping things simple. And is any form of theater simpler than a fireworks dispay? No plot to keep up with, no dialog to follow, just plenty of action. America feasts during many of its holidays, but with varying complication - where Thanksgiving is an elaboration of side dishes and stuffings and sauces, July Fourth is plain barbecue. Sauces? What do you call mustard and ketchup?