Seacraft News

Washington Island Ferry Line (WIFL) has been the essential link between the residents, business and visitors of Washington Island and Wisconsin's Door Peninsula for more than eight decades.Picturesque and peaceful Door County isn't named for some intrepid settlers named Door. The name has a more ominous meaning. It's derived from the treacherous passage between the peninsula and Washington Island that mariners called Porte des Mortes, or Death's Door.A unique combination of environmental…

Manitowoc, Wis. shipbuilder Burger Boat Company announced it has delivered a new car/passenger ferry vessel to the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.The 92-foot U.S.-made steel ferry, Neebish Island III, will operate year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between Barbeau, Mich., and Neebish Island. The vesselwas designed by Seacraft Design, LLC of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Manitowoc, Wis., shipbuilder Burger Boat Company announced it has begun work on a new vehicle and passenger ferry for the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.Due to launch Summer 2022, the 92-foot steel ferry will operate year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between Barbeau, Mich., and Neebish Island. The ferry was designed to operate in the harsh winter environment and through the solid ice conditions it will encounter on its route.The ferry is designed by Seacraft Design, LLC of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Manitowoc, Wis. boat builder Burger Boat Company announced it has launched a new passenger vessel for Chicago’s First Lady Cruises. The 98-foot steel vessel, Chicago’s Emerald Lady, can serve up to 250 passengers and is designed by Mark Pudlo, Principal, Seacraft Design in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Washington Island Ferry Line signed an agreement with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding of Sturgeon Bay to construct the Madonna, a year-round boat transporting passengers and vehicles across Death’s Door Passage, the waters between the island and Northport Pier — the tip of the Door peninsula.The new ferry will be named Madonna, measuring 124 feet in length with a 40-foot beam and 10-foot, 8-inch draft. It will have capacity for as many as 28 vehicles and 150 passengers.The new ferry will be the largest in the ferry line fleet. It is scheduled for delivery in late May 2020.“We are pleased to build what is our third ferry for Washington Island…

The newest addition to the Shoreline Sightseeing fleet in Chicago is powered by a pair of D13 400 hp Volvo Penta engines. MV Skyview is Shoreline’s first vessel with Volvo Penta engines, and according to Captain Chris LeBlanc, senior captain and Shoreline manager, Skyview is burning less than three gallons per hour for both engines during sightseeing tours. Other comparable boats in the fleet consume more than 10 gph. LeBlanc said the boat is smoother to run, easier to control and provides excellent torque, even at low RPMs, for docking and maneuvering in the narrow Chicago River.

Sparks are flying on the keel of the $1.9 million, 57-foot aluminum fisheries research vessel for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), at Moran Iron Works (MIW). The project was announced in November of 2016 when the two parties met for an inaugural meeting in Onaway. Preliminary design of the vessel was performed by Seacraft Design, LLC, with MIW working to finalize the design and construction drawings. “The official laying of keel day was January 23,” said Jason Willis, project manager at MIW.

Blount Boats of Warren, R.I. has delivered the M/V Skyview to Shoreline Sightseeing, marking the builder’s second delivery for the Chicago sightseeing company. With a LOA of 100 feet and maximum beam of 35 feet, the steel Subchapter K passenger vessel designed by Seacraft Design, LLC is certified to carry up to 318 passengers and will operate as an architectural tour boat in partially protected waters. The vessel is powered by twin Volvo D13 MH, 400hp diesels with twin 65 kW John Deere generators, ZF W325 gearboxes, 2.933:1 ratio supplied and commissioned by Allemand Industries, Harvey, LA.

Blount Boats, Inc. has been contracted to build a 100- x 35-foot steel passenger ferry boat for Shoreline Sightseeing Co., Chicago, Ill. The proposed 300-plus passenger, Sub-Chapter K vessel was designed by Seacraft Design, LLC, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. And will operate as an architectural tour boat in partially protected waters. The vessel is the second being built by Blount for Shoreline, and delivery is slated for spring 2016. The vessel will be powered by twin Volvo D13 MH, 400hp diesels with twin 65 kW John Deere generators…

A $3.8 million ferry for Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry will soon be under construction at Moran Iron Works in Onaway, Michigan. The 85-foot, all-aluminum ferry—to be christened Miss Margy—is scheduled to carry its first passengers in July 2015. The keel will be laid in mid-January and the hull completed over the next four months. The ferry will then be launched through Moran’s Port Calcite Collaborative, a deepwater port in Rogers City, Michigan and transported to Shepler’s facility in Mackinaw City, where seating will be installed and painting done. The 281-passenger ferry, Shepler’s largest, will have a top speed of about 40 mph. Shepler’s currently has a fleet of five passenger ferries and one cargo vessel. Miss Margy will be a K Class passenger vessel built in accordance with U.S.

Burger Boat Company announced the delivery of a 98-foot steel passenger vessel to Chicago's First Lady Cruises in Chicago. The vessel, Chicago’s Classic Lady, was designed by Seacraft Design, LLC of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. Chicago’s Classic Lady departed the Burger shipyard Saturday afternoon, May 10, 2014, on her delivery voyage to the Chicago waterfront, arriving early the next morning. Built by Burger Boat Company of Manitowoc, Wisc., Chicago’s Classic Lady is powered by two Caterpillar C12 main engines and has two Caterpillar C4.4 generators.

Manitowoc, Wisconsin, U.S.A. – April 8, 2011 Burger Boat Company launches the R/V Coregonus, a 60’ Research Vessel for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. R/V Coregonus is replacing the R/V Barney Devine, a steel Fishing Tug built by Burger in 1937. SeaCraft Design in Sturgeon Bay, WI designed the R/V Coregonus for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to meet the demanding requirements of the department. Powered by twin Caterpillar C12 diesel engines, the all welded aluminum R/V Coregonus will provide a cruising speed of 20 knots.

Burger Boat Company is pleased to announce the upcoming delivery of a 60’ Fisheries Research Vessel, R/V Coregonus, to the Wisconsin Department of Resources in April 2011. This commercial vessel marks the reinstatement of commercial boat building for Burger Boat Company. Length, o.a. Designer SeaCraft Design LLC, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Burger Boat Company has received a contract for the construction of Chicago’s Leading Lady, a 98-ft steel passenger vessel, for Chicago’s First Lady Cruises, Chicago, Ill. Chicago’s Leading Lady is styled after the 1920s luxury cruising yachts such as the former Presidential yacht Sequoia. Chicago’s First Lady Cruises will use the vessel for upscale private parties, wedding rehearsal dinners and corporate events, as well as, serve as an official vessel for the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. The vessel was designed by Seacraft Design LLC, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Burger Boat Company and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources signed a contract for the construction of a 60-ft research vessel to support expanded study and survey work of the Lake Michigan fisheries. Named after the fish genus that includes: Lake Whitefish and Lake Herring, the new RV Coregonus will be capable of gill netting and allowing fisheries staff to continue the work done on the previous research ship—the RV Barney Devine. The RV Coregonus will also have expanded features including onboard laboratory equipment…

Janssen Preservation and Material Protection announced that an Econea-containing antifoulant coating is being used by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard to protect military seacraft. Developed by Janssen PMP, Econea is a metal-free antifouling agent that protects vessels against aquatic growth without a potential negative impact on the marine environment compared to traditional, copper-based antifoulants. The coating was recently used to coat the 560-ft nuclear submarine USS Nevada. It is also being applied to U.S. Coast Guard aluminum hull crafts, eliminating the risk of galvanic corrosion that can occur when copper-based paints are applied to aluminum.

The decision to repower a vessel is a multi-faceted one, and it can be safely assumed that no two decisions in this arena are exactly the same. Whether it's a crewboat that needs new power units to accommodate a new scope of operation; extending the life of an old, but otherwise stable boat; a rip and refit to replace under performing engines; or as a simple factor in the overall vessel conversion equation - the decision to install new engines on a vessel entails a significant financial investment for the owner. This year has seen a number of significant and unique marine repowerings. The vessels covered in this report are unique in that they range from a 149-passenger tour boat to an 846-ft. long military freighter powered by gas turbine engines.

Seacraft Shipyard Corporation of Amelia, La., delivered M/V Contender, a 140-ft. aluminum oilfield crewboat. M/V Contender represents the new generation of aluminum oilfield crewboat, designed and built to transport and support the oilfield industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Designed in house, the vessel is certified for Gulf of Mexico Service by the United States Coast Guard and the American Bureau Shipping via loadline standards. The vessel is certified to carry 140 long tons of deck cargo located on the large aft deck measuring 70 x 18-ft. The vessel is equipped to transfer 20,938 gallons of rig water and 11,500 gallons of fuel. The vessel is also equipped to carry 7,776 gallons of ship’s fuel and 1,500 gallons of potable water.

The 140 ft. catamaran seismic survey vessel Ms. Cordelia was delivered to Global Geophysical Services, Houston, TX. The all aluminum vessel was converted from a prototype high speed low wake passenger ferry that had not been completed or put in service. The conversion design and engineering was done by the naval architectural firm of Guarino & Cox, LLC, Covington, LA. Seacraft Shipyard carried out the conversion work at their facilities in Amelia, LA. The unfinished vessel was considered an ideal candidate to be converted for its intended use primarily due to the large deck area available and its shallow draft. The MS. CORDELIA will be capable of performing inshore shallow water seismic survey work laying and retrieving cables in as little as 6 feet of water.

In addition to delivering Laurie Tide on schedule, Seacraft Shipyard also surpassed all contractual vessel performance requirements. Christened by her namesake, Mrs. Laurie Kirzner, the vessel holds a top speed of 30 knots, a normal operating speed of 28.5 knots and a contract loaded speed of 27.5 knots; Laurie Tide is the fastest 115 ft. class, propeller driven mono hull, oilfield crew boat ever built, says the company. USCG-approved for 200 miles offshore and ABS classed, the vessel is powered by three Cummins engines producing 1,350-hp each closed coupled to a Reintjes Marine Gear. Electrical power plants consist of two Cummins 4 BT 3.9 engines coupled to a Newage Stamford 50 kW generator supplying electricity throughout the vessel.

Seacraft Shipyard Corporation, based in Amelia, La. delivered its recent newbuild, M/V Cayman Aggressor IV. Constructed to transport and support recreational scuba divers, the 100 ft. live-aboard dive yacht is the newest of its kind. The vessel boasts yacht quality furnishings, and is the first in a new generation of luxury in the live-aboard diving business. Certified for ocean service, and compliant to USCG, ABS and SOLAS standards, Cayman Agressor's upper deck houses bridge controls, covered self-service bar, hot tub and sun deck. The main deck is comprised of the pilothouse dining room, galley and dive deck. Eight staterooms are included as well. Propulsion is supplied by a pair of GM engines with an auxiliary power from two, vibration isolated, GM generator sets.

Seacraft Shipyard Corporation of Amelia, La., recently delivered M/V Galaxy to its owners in Roatan, Honduras. M/V Galaxy will operate as a passenger and cargo ferry servicing the islands off the coast of Honduras. The vessel can transport up to 279 passengers, and has three separate cargo holds. Main propulsion is supplied by four CAT 3412 engines rated at 825 hp each, close-coupled to TD 5202 2.5:1 transmissions turning 40 x 41 in. four-blade Nibral propellers. Electrical power is supplied by two new 60 kW, 1,200 rpm generator sets. The main cabin has seating for 168 passengers, as well as a concesion area. A satellite television system with remotes throughout the vessel and stereo system is installed for passenger entertainment.

Seacraft Shipyard Corp. of Amelia, La. delivered M/V Cayman Aggressor IV to Aggressor Fleet Ltd. The 110 ft. aluminum luxury dive yacht was designed by Seacraft Shipyard and is Cayman Island Shipping Registry certified. Two 12V71TI main engines, closed coupled to a pair of Twin Disc 514, 2.5:1 transmissions enables Cayman Aggressor IV to cruise at 12 knots. The propeller shafts and rudders are stainless steel and were fabricated at Seacraft's machine shop. Electricity is supplied by one 30 kW and one 40 kW generator. The aft dive deck features storage lockers for diving gear, air and nitrox fill stations, fresh water dip tank, and two access ladders.