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Washington Marine News

14 Sep 2016

WSDOT Christens New Ferry Chimacum

WSF’s third Olympic Class vessel, M/V Chimacum, will will replace an older vessel on the Seattle/Bremerton route in 2017. (Photo: WSDOT)

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) christened Chimacum, the third Olympic Class vessel to join the Washington State Ferries (WSF) fleet. The ceremony took place at Vigor's Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle, and marked the vessel’s final stage of construction and its preparation for sea trials. In a traditional maritime ceremony, Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary Lynne Griffith broke a bottle of champagne to officially welcome the new ferry to the fleet. Gov.

16 Apr 2014

Shipbuilding: Vigor Industrial Grows Stronger

 Frank Foti, Vigor Industrial CEO

Vigor Industrial has ballooned from a modest shipyard in Portland, Oregon, to the largest shipbuilder in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Vigor increasingly thinks big and builds big. The company’s new floating dry dock will be the largest in the United States. And Vigor wants to get even bigger. CEO and owner Frank Foti expresses an ambition to grow to twice the current size in the “next few years.” Foti, who is also chairman of the Shipbuilder’s Council of America, says he is, “striving for critical mass.

02 Apr 2013

Japanese Tsunami Dock Removed from Olympic Coast

Tsunami Dock: Photo courtesy of US National Parks Service

Crews from The Undersea Company of Port Townsend, Wash. have removed the 185-ton dock that crossed the ocean following the March 2011 tsunami. NOAA contracted with The Undersea Company to remove the dock from the remote wilderness coast in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and the Olympic National Park and work began on March 17. "This operation was challenging-imagine opening up a 185-ton concrete package filled with foam packing peanuts while standing near a helicopter on an extremely remote coastline," said John Nesset, president and C.E.O. of The Undersea Company.

25 Jul 2012

Vigor Industrial: A Rising Star in Shipbuilding in the Pacific Northwest & Alaska Arctic

Vigor Industrial’s CEO, Frank Foti (Photo courtesy Vigor Industrial)

“There is a resurgence of the marine industry in the Pacific Northwest we haven’t seen for 20 to 30 years now,” said Vince Piscitello, Vice President of Business Development for Vigor Industrial LLC. “The oil and gas industry is really new to our area,” he said, although he expects to see it grow significantly with Shell’s exploration of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off Alaska’s northern coast. State run ferry operations in Washington and Alaska are at a point where they must renew fleets built in the 50s and 60s.

14 Jan 2012

Analytic Systems Products ABS Certified

Analytic Systems has announced that it has responded to its commercial marine reseller network in North America and started the process of certifying their marine specific power conversion products. These products will be highlighted at the Multi-Agency Combat Craft Conference at Norfolk, VA in May, 2012. The first models to be certified to ABS standards are the new BCA1505 (1500W AC charger); the BCA310 (300W AC charger); the IPS300 (300W DC/AC Puresine inverter) and the VTC315 (Isolated DC/DC voltage converter). In addition a new line of cost reduced Intelligent AC battery chargers, cost reduced power supplies and inverters will also be highlighted. ABS has provided Analytic Systems with their Certificate of Manufacturing Assessment # VA2089914-A-X.

14 Nov 2011

Analytic Systems Certifying Products to ABS Standard

Intelligent AC Battery Charger

Analytic Systems has announced that it has responded to its commercial marine reseller network in North America and started the process of certifying their marine specific power conversion products. The first models to be certified to ABS standards are the new BCA1505 (1500W AC charger); the BCA310 (300W AC charger); the IPS300 (300W DC/AC Puresine inverter) and the VTC315 (Isolated DC/DC voltage converter). In addition a new line of cost reduced Intelligent AC battery chargers, cost reduced power supplies and inverters will also be highlighted.

07 Oct 2011

APL Holds Full-scale Anti-terror Exercise

APL and law enforcement officials including the FBI successfully tested anti-terrorism capabilities at the shipping line’s Seattle, Washington marine terminal. It was the seventh full-scale security exercise conducted by the global container carrier in the past six years. The day-long drill involved 200 people with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, port police and fire department. All helped evaluate APL’s collaboration with the public sector in combating threats to the supply chain. APL invited competing terminal operators as observers. “The cooperation we received from law enforcement was outstanding and the exercise was useful in showing us what works and what needs to be improved on…

04 Oct 2011

Analytic Systems Lowers Battery Charger Prices

Analytic Systems has released new lower 2011 pricing for industrial application AC source battery chargers, AC/DC power supplies, DC/AC PureSine and Quasi-Sine inverters. Analytic Systems provides high performance power conversion products to a variety of industrial users like the commercial marine, utility vehicle, mining, bus and rail, oil and gas, telecom, alternative energy, etc due to their high reliability and rugged designs. Analytic Systems is looking to bring on new resellers…

14 Oct 2010

Vancouver Shipyards Short Listed for Shipbuilding Program

Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. (VSY), part of the Washington Marine Group Shipyards Division, has cleared the first hurdle in the government selection process to be one of two shipyards to build the country’s future Naval and Coast Guard fleet. The Federal Government’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) program is worth approximately $35b to the Canadian shipbuilding industry and represents a solid investment in building replacement ships for the Canadian Navy and Coast Guard. An award of this nature would be significant for the West Coast shipbuilding industry, creating predictable work for a period of over 30 years. It would also allow further investment in the people, processes and equipment needed to revitalize the shipbuilding industry in British Columbia (BC).

28 Sep 2010

Seaspan: Orders 4 New Tugs for Vancouver

Seaspan International announced the largest tug build commitment of a single class of vessels in over 35 years. The company signed a contract with Sanmar Denizcilik Shipyard, of Istanbul Turkey; to build four state-of-the-art ship assist tugs. The prime duties for these tugs will be to dock, undock and escort ships in Vancouver Harbor and Roberts Bank. The RAstar 28 m tugs will feature full fire fighting capability and upon arrival will be amongst the most powerful vessels to sail BC waters.

17 May 2010

Canadian Shipbuilding: East against West

According to a May 16 report from the Vancouver Sun, the Harper government is expected to release its long-term shipbuilding strategy in the coming weeks, creating two national centers to handle billions of dollars worth of contracts. The strategy could spark a high-stakes game pitting West Coast firms against East Coast companies in a winner-take-all contest. Vancouver-based Washington Marine Group and J.D. Irving on the East Coast will be asked to submit proposals to become the “center of excellence” for building combat ships such as the Arctic patrol vessels and the fleet of vessels that will eventually replace the navy’s Halifax-class frigates. Victoria Shipyards is owned by Washington Marine Group, as are Vancouver Drydock and Vancouver Shipyards.

14 Apr 2010

WMG & Thales Teaming Agreement Signed

Washington Marine Group (WMG) announced the signing of a Teaming Agreement with Thales Canada forming a strategic alliance to provide the Government of Canada a single solution for the future build and in service support of the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). The AOPS program is worth over $2b dollars, delivering six ice breaking patrol vessels to the Canadian Navy, as part of the Federal Government’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). It will provide 700 to 800 skilled jobs to BC shipbuilders and 40 to 60 high technology jobs, in Ontario. WMG is currently supplying in service support for the Canadian submarine fleet, Mid Life extension for Canadian Patrol Frigates, and building Motorized Lifeboats for the Canadian Coast Guard.

18 Mar 2010

Polar Tankers to Pay $588K for 2004 Spill

Polar Tankers Inc., a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips Co., has agreed to pay $588,000 to help compensate the public for environmental harm caused by the October 2004 crude oil spill into Puget Sound’s Dalco Passage near Tacoma. The payment would come under a proposed settlement agreement or consent decree filed this week in U.S. District Court, Western Washington Division involving Polar Tankers and the United States, state of Washington, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Puyallup Tribe of Indians. A consent decree in federal court makes no finding of guilt or innocence. The U.S. Attorney General’s action was made at the request of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S.

30 Nov 2009

Victoria Shipyards Acquires CME Assets

Washington Marine Group announced that it has acquired substantially all of the Victoria-based assets of Canadian Maritime Engineering (CME). CME has operated a ship repair business at the Esquimalt Graving dock since 2004. The CME assets include a large shop, shipyard machinery and equipment, which Victoria Shipyards (VSL) will utilize in the execution of the Frigate Life Extension program (FELEX) for the Canadian Navy. In addition to the CME assets, VSL will be purchasing a number of other mobile buildings in the coming months to provide the necessary facilities to support the FELEX team and to efficiently serve customer. (www.washingtonmarinegroup.com)

30 Jul 2009

PacifiCat Ferries Sold

The Washington Marine Group of Companies announced that is has sold the three PacifiCat ferries to foreign buyer, Abu Dhabi Mar, for export from Canada. The details of the transaction are confidential. The three ferries will be transported from Vancouver Harbour via heavy lift deep-sea vessel. The first is scheduled to depart next month. (www.washingtonmarinegroup.com)

10 Dec 2008

Webb, Christopher Join Robert Allan Ltd.

Robert Allan Ltd. announced the recent appointment of two senior staff members. Roland (Rollie) Webb has been appointed as Manager, New Construction. Webb comes to Robert Allan Ltd. with many years of shipbuilding and management experience across Canada and in the United States. From 1993 to 2003, Web was President of Todd Pacific Shipyard Corporation, Seattle, WA, and most recently was President, Shipyards at Washington Marine Group, Vancouver, BC. Webb will be responsible for the overall management of our numerous new vessel construction projects around the world. David H.

12 Aug 2003

Seaspan Container Lines Expands

Seaspan Container Lines has placed an order for nine new 4,250 TEU container ships. The new ships will be chartered to the Canadian shipping company, CP Ships. “It is an honor for us to expand our customer base to include CP Ships. Their people, performance, and history are all first class. We are extremely excited about this new relationship,” said Kyle Washington, CEO and chairman of the Washington Marine Group. The new ships will be built at Samsung Heavy Industries, in South Korea. Gerry Wang, director, Sea Span Container Lines said, “this continues our very strong partnership with Samsung. This is the 36th large containership Seaspan has ordered from Samsung Heavy Industries over the past three years.

07 Oct 2003

Investment in Design: Integrity in a New Era

As the first containerships officially credited with capacities topping 8,000-TEU, the series of newbuilds ordered at the start of the year by Vancouver-based Seaspan for long-term charter to China Shipping Group embodies a design, which has been the subject of the most thorough structural analysis. The boxship sector has always been characterized by a propensity for driving developments to the limits of technical possibility. Its outstanding structural safety record over the years is testament to the industry's unflagging efforts to ensure long-term vessel integrity in combination with advancing scale. The considered technical approach expressed in current projects in the 8…

31 May 2002

Vancover Shipyards and Washington Marine Sign Contract with Acomarin

Vancouver Shipyards together with their parent corporation Washington Marine Group has signed a contract with Acomarin Engineering to purchase their JAK-400 Pushpin® ATB coupling system. Much research went into the decision as to which ATB coupling system would best fit their needs. Acomarin’s JAK-400 Pushpin® coupling system is one of the lightest ATB coupling systems on the market making it an easy retro fit to any tugboat and barge. Acomarin was also able to offer the fastest delivery time by supplying the complete system in less than 8 weeks. Both of these reasons were important factors in the decision for Washington Marine Group and Vancouver Shipyards.

07 Jul 2006

Vancouver Shipyards to Build New Ship in North Vancouver

BC Ferries announced that it has signed a $41m contract with Vancouver Shipyards, a Washington Marine Group company, to build a new 125-car intermediate size ferry. Construction on the 100 m vessel will begin later this year and the ship is expected to enter service by the summer of 2008. The new intermediate vessel will allow for the retirement of the 46-year-old Queen of Tsawwassen. The new ship will initially sail on the Earls Cove - Saltery Bay route on the Sunshine Coast. vessel includes a comfortable lounge, a snack bar and a new state-of-the-art lifesaving system. The process for selecting the successful builder was started last year with 14 shipyards invited to participate in the prequalification process for the intermediate vessel…

07 Jul 2006

Vancouver Shipyards to Build New Ferry

BC Ferries announced that it has signed a $45.5m contract with Vancouver Shipyards, a Washington Marine Group company, to build a new 125-car intermediate size ferry. Construction on the 328-ft. will begin later this year and the ship is expected to enter service by the summer of 2008. The new intermediate vessel will allow for the retirement of the 46-year old Queen of Tsawwassen. Over the next five years, BC Ferries will add eight new vessels at a cost of $1b to ensure the continued safety and reliability of the fleet.

13 Jul 2006

BC Ferries Signs $45.5m Deal to Build New Ferry

BC Ferries has signed a $45.5m Contract to construct a new intermediate-sized ferry slated for the Saltery Bay-Earls Cove route. Construction of the 125-car, 600 passenger, 328-ft. vessel will begin later this year at Vancouver Shipyards, a Washington Marine Group company, in North Vancouver. The design includes a lounge, snack bar and a new state-of-the-art lifesaving system. The ship is expected to enter service initially on the Saltery Bay route by the summer of 2008. Originally the new vessel was slotted to go to Bowen Island. The new vessel will allow BC Ferries to retire the 46-year-old Queen of Tsawwassen, the summer vessel on the route linking Powell River to the Sechelt peninsula.

27 Apr 2005

Washington State Honors Tug-and-Barge Company

Island Tug and Barge Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C., received an award from the Washington Department of Ecology for excellence in marine safety and environmental stewardship. The Exceptional Compliance Program (Ecopro) Award will be presented to Island Tug and Barge at 10:30 a.m. at the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center on Pier 66, 2205 Alaska Way, in Seattle. The award ceremony will be followed by a short reception, during which reporters may interview Ecology officials and company representatives. Tank-barge companies receive the Ecopro Award only if they meet or exceed all 26 of Ecology's marine-safety standards for tank barges. Island Tug and Barge is the fifth company to earn the award since the program began in 1999. This is the first tug-and-barge company to receive the award.