VIGOR SHIPYARDS
Vigor to Acquire Alaska Ship & Drydock
Vigor today announced its plan to acquire Alaska Ship and Drydock Inc. (ASD), further consolidating the business of ship repair on the U.S. West Coast. ASD intends to transition its business and assets to Vigor pending approval of the transfer of ownership by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), the owner of the Ketchikan Shipyard where ASD is based. The private companies hope to finalize their agreement on or before March 1st. ASD would operate the Ketchikan Shipyard (KSY) as the Alaska Ship & Drydock LLC subsidiary, in continuation of its thirty year AIDEA operating agreements. ASD employees and customers will notice little change in day-to-day operations, said ASD owner Randy Johnson, a Ketchikan resident who has directed operations at KSY since 1994. Johnson will continue with the company, becoming ASD Vice Chairman. “The purchase of ASD by Vigor will increase the capacity and competitiveness of the Ketchikan Shipyard in many ways, positioning Ketchikan and the State of Alaska to not only continue our high level of service to existing customers, but to significantly participate in exciting new markets emerging in the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans,” Johnson said. Vigor Industrial currently owns and operates leading maritime services in the Pacific Northwest at facilities from Portland through Puget Sound.
Good News Comes in Threes for State Ferries
Third 64-car ferry joins state fleet three months ahead of schedule. There must be something magic about the number three. Today, Vigor Industrial and its U.S. Fab shipbuilding division delivered the third of three new Washington state ferries, the 64-car Kennewick, three months ahead of schedule. “This is a major milestone in our vessel replacement program,” said Assistant Secretary David Moseley. “The Kwa-di Tabil class is now complete
Vigor Marine Expands Ops in Puget Sound
Vigor Marine LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vigor Industrial, will purchase the assets of Marine Industries Northwest, Inc. (MINI) in Tacoma, Wash. The transaction is expected to close on or about August 6, 2010. The company will operate the facility as Vigor Marine Tacoma, and will continue providing vessel repair, conversion, and construction services at that location. www.vigormarine.com
NSRP Approves $1.4m in Shipbuilding Program Funds
As part of the National Shipbuilding Research Program’s (NSRP) core mission to reduce the costs associated with Navy shipbuilding and repair, the NSRP Executive Control Board has selected 15 new research and development projects for award, totaling approximately $1.4M. These projects will be executed under the 10 NSRP communities of practice referred to as panels: The NSRP Executive Control Board allocates funds on an approximately annual basis to fund a portfolio of relatively
Vigor Completes Conversion of Barge Klamath
Vigor Marine, a Vigor Industrial subsidiary, recently completed work on Barge Klamath, converting the vessel from a petroleum tank barge to an OSVR measuring 350’ x 76’ x 22’. The barge is owned by Crowley and leased to Shell as part of its comprehensive Alaskan oil spill response fleet in the Beaufort and Chuckchi seas. “Vigor’s extensive expertise in ice classing vessels for arctic waters, combined with the geographic proximity of their facilities
Vigor, Ulstein Collaborate on New USCG Design
Vigor Industrial and Ulstein have been cooperating to develop a conceptual design for a coastguard vessel (OPC - Offshore Patrol Cutter), and Vigor announced Ulstein ’s SX151 design in the U.S. as part of a campaign aimed at the U.S. Coast Guard, that plans to renew its fleet with up to 25 new ships. “In response to the U.S. Coast Guard’s demanding Offshore Patrol Cutter requirements, Vigor Industrial looked beyond the conventional
NSA And SCA Merge
Donald T. 'Boysie' Bollinger, chairman and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., and chairman of the National Shipyard Association (NSA) and Daniel L. Gulling, president of Marinette Marine Corp., and chairman of the Shipbuilders Council of America have announced the merger of the two associations. The new association, also called Shipbuilders Council of America, represents more than 50 shipyard companies that own and operate more than 100 shipyards in 20 states
Shipyards Work Together
NAVSEA’s Portsmouth Naval Shipyard teaming with General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) is ahead of schedule this year on one of the Navy’s most challenging projects, the USS Memphis (SSN 691) Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). This availability is different than most, particularly in the manner in which the work is being accomplished. A partnership of EB and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) workers is doing the work on Memphis while it is at EB
Construction Begins on Next-Generation Ferry
The first arc welds on the keel of Washington’s new 144-car ferry will be made later this month by the leaders of the state Legislature transportation committees, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen of Camano Island and Rep. Judy Clibborn of Mercer Island. The two legislators will join Washington State Ferries officials and ship workers at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 29, to commemorate the moment when the vessel’s keel is laid in place at Vigor Industrial’s Harbor Island
Second WSF 144-car Ferry in Progress
Construction will begin in December on a second 144-car ferry. The Ferries Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation and shipbuilder Vigor Industrial signed papers this morning to make the second new vessel a reality for customers of the state ferry system. “This has been a tremendous event for Washington state and our ferry system,” said David Moseley, assistant transportation secretary, Ferries Division
U.S. Fab Deliver Unique Maintenance and Mooring Barge
U.S. Fab, a Vigor Industrial company, has delivered the purpose-built vessel to Washington’s King County for the use of its passenger ferry fleet. The 140’x40’x7’6” barge features moorage for up to four vessels and two steel structures
Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival Returns
The Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival runs May 7-11, 2013, with fun, food and maritime facts for the whole family on the Seattle Waterfront. “The Vigor Seattle Maritime Festival is a celebration of the maritime workers, industries and commerce that make Seattle great,” said Fred Kiga
Guam Shipyard Opposes Union Representation
President & CEO Mathews Pothen of Guam Shipyard advises its 280 workers they will not benefit by joining a union. Guam Shipyard employees are shortly to make an important decision for their future – either to remain status quo or to be represented by the International Brotherhood
World's Largest Tugboat Race Highlights Seattle Maritime Festival
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
A Boon to Shipbuilding
Detailed Instructions and Sequencing of Tasks Having detailed instructions for each shipbuilding task and precise sequencing of the workflow is creating efficiencies and reducing rework at shipyards on the east and west coasts of the US.
Vigor Inks Deal for 80,000 Ton Drydock
Vigor signs deal for largest floating drydock in the United States. Vigor Industrial has reached an agreement with Daoda Marine Heavy Industry Company (DDHI) to purchase a new floating drydock for $40 million. At 960 feet long, with an inside width of 186 feet and a lifting capacity of 80
Harley Marine Awards US Fab Barge Contract
US Fab, a Vigor Industrial company, will soon begin construction on a 250’x70’x15’8” deck barge for Harley Marine Services at Vigor’s Swan Island shipyard in Portland, Oregon. This purpose built barge was designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants to transport a wide
Power to the People
Passenger ferry and tour boat market segment has suddenly been revitalized and is on the verge of becoming hot. It is no secret: new vessel construction for the passenger vessel industry came to a virtual standstill in conjunction with the troubled economy
Labor, Maritime Business Coalition Urge Congress to Avoid CR
A bipartisan coalition urge Congress to pass a Defense Appropriation Bill to avoid another Continuing Resolution (CR) & Sequestration. A bipartisan coalition of labor unions and maritime business owners affiliated with the Shipbuilding Council of America have jointly sent a letter to
Jensen Designs Two Tugs, Deck Barge for Harley
Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company, recently completed the designs of two new ASD tugs, based on the popular Valor tugboat design, and a 250’ x 70’ x 15’ 8” deck barge for customer Harley Marine
Jensen Maritime Designs Harley Tugs & Barge
Crowley Maritime subsidiary, Jensen Maritime complete design of 2 ASD tugboats & a deck cargo barge for Harley Marine. Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company Jensen Maritime recently completed the designs of two new ASD tugs
Washington Governor Makes Weld on State’s Second Ferry
Washington Governor Jay Inslee officially kicked off the construction of M/V Samish, the state’s newest 144-car ferry, by making the first weld on the vessel at Vigor Industrial’s Seattle shipyard Friday. Earlier in the week US Fab, the Vigor company building the ferries
Fireboat Chief Seattle Delivered
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering company Guido Perla and Associates, Inc. (GPA) announced the completion on time and within budget of a major renovation of the fireboat Chief Seattle at Vigor Marine in Everett, Washington.
Proceeding Quietly with Vigor
West Coast Shipyard banks on the old adage, “if we build it, they will come.” In a climate of both seemingly fat backlogs and at the same time uncertainty for domestic shipyards, Vigor Industrial is one company that continues to make news in the shipbuilding and repair merger and
Vigor Industrial Promotes Bryan Nichols and Grant Fosheim
Vigor Industrial made two promotions in its sales and marketing team, advancing Bryan Nichols to Manager of Sales and Marketing and Grant Fosheim to Sales and Marketing Associate. Bryan Nichols joined Vigor Industrial in 2011 as a sales representative