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The Big M Casino News

02 Jan 2004

Eastern Wins Casino Vessel Contract

The Big M Casino, Inc of Fort Myers, Fla., has awarded a contract to Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Florida to construct a casino vessel. The as yet unnamed vessel will join the existing vessel, Royal Gambler, in providing offshore casino services to the Fort Myers market. The vessel was designed by John W. Gilbert and Associates, a prominent naval architect firm located in Hingham, Massachusetts. The interior design will be performed by Bauer Interiors of New Orleans, Louisiana.Bauer Interiors is one of the best-known companies in design, traffic and ergonomics of casino vessels. The vessel is 186 ft. long with a beam of 38 ft. and a molded depth of 11.5 ft., and depending on conditions, will have a loaded draft of 8 ft. She will accommodate 600 passengers plus a crew of 72.

11 Jan 2005

A Market that has Rediscovered its Rudder

The year 2004 was a watershed year for the passenger vessel industry. The first two American flagged fast passenger and vehicle ferries went into service and equally important was that business was up in all sectors of the marketplace. There is more variety as well. For the first time in several years, new casino boats are being built. One is for an operator in Michigan City, Indiana, a vessel being built at Chicago Bridge & Iron as a replacement boat for a vessel now almost 10 years old. A second is for the Lake Charles, La. Subsidiary of Pinnacle Entertainment, a Las Vegas-based gaming company. This is a 330-ft. by 225-ft. powered barge built by Leevac Shipyards, Jennings, La.

23 Aug 1999

Largest Hull from Washburn & Doughty

Washburn & Doughty Associates launched a 186 ft. offshore casino vessel for Cajun Express, Inc., of Boston, Mass. Hull 65, yet to be named, is the largest vessel built by Washburn & Doughty, edging out 185-ft., Great Point, an 800-passenger vessel running from Hyannis, Mass. The new vessel is a lengthened and widened version of 162-ft. Big M Casino, which was delivered to Cajun Express in July, 1996, and now operates out of Fort Myers, Fla. Specifically designed to handle offshore conditions with heavy gaming equipment on board, Hull 65 measures 186 x 38 ft., with a 7.5 ft. draft. It will carry a minimum of 500 passengers and 72 crew. The vessel's anticipated running speed is 15 knots, making for a quick trip to gaming waters.

24 Sep 1999

Washburn & Doughty to Build Casino Boat

Washburn & Doughty has signed a contract with Cajun Express, Inc., of Boston, to build a 186-ft. offshore casino boat. Hull 65 is the second vessel to be built by Cajun Express at Washburn & Doughty. The first, Big M Casino, is operating out of Fort Myers, Fla. Hull 65 wil be a longer and wider version of the first vessel, and was designed by Washburn & Doughty and John W. Gilbert Assoc., Inc. It was designed specifically to handle off-shore conditions with heavy gaming equipment aboard. Hull 65 measures 186 x 38 ft., with a 7.5 ft. draft. It will carry a minimum of 500 passengers and up to 72 crew. The vessel will be powered by two Caterpillar 3508B DIT main engines rated at 1,100 bhp @ 1,800 rpm.

12 Nov 1999

Cummins to Power Big New Casino Boat

Alabama Shipyard Inc will be building a casino boat for Hollywod Park, Inc. who will operate the cruising riverboat from Belterra Resort and Casino in Indiana about 35 miles south of Cincinnati Ohio. Shore side facilities will include a hotel and golf course, while the vessel will contain 1,800 gaming positions. The Hollywood Park casino vessel will be the 14th casino vessel built by Atlantic Marine companies and the second such vessel to be built at Alabama Shipyards. At 370 x 104 ft., it will be one of the largest casino vessels in operation. Propulsion will be provided by three 12-cylinder Cummins KTA38 M2 engines each producing 1,300 hp at 1,800 rpm for a total of 3,900 hp turning cardon shafts and driving three Shottel rudder propellers.

27 Jan 2000

Outstanding Passenger Vessels

Measuring 175 ft. in length, dinner cruise vessel Starship was recently delivered to Starship Cruise Lines of Biloxi, Miss. Boasting a mega-yacht style, the vessel was designed by Naval Architects Dejong & Lebet of Jacksonville, Fla., and constructed by Freeport, Fla.-based Freeport Shipbuilding. Plachter-Vogel Design provided interior architecture. USCG-Certified under Subchapter K for 600 passengers, plus 30 crew, Starship carries a Stability Letter for Partially Protected waters. The vessel is designed to have a 5-5.6 ft. full load draft enabling it to access some of the Biloxi area's more shallow waterways. The hull features tunnels to allow large enough propellers while minimizing the draft.