Michigan Wheel News

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industry’s engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine News’ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.

Alabama shipbuilder Silver Ships announced it has delivered a new marine surveying vessel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Venice Sub Office in Venice, La. The 49-foot Tobin is the latest expansion in Silver Ships’ Endeavor series of workboats and is the largest marine surveying vessel of its series.Custom designed for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to hydrographically map the mouth of the Mississippi River, the mission-specific vessel will allow researchers to accurately and effectively obtain and document data on the rapidly changing waters in the Mississippi River.

Boat builder Metal Shark said it has delivered a 55- by 17-foot welded aluminum pilot boat to the Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association in Mississippi.Designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team and built at the company’s Franklin, La. shipyard, the new Singing River Island is the second Metal Shark pilot boat to join the Pascagoula Pilots fleet. It represents the latest evolution in the Louisiana-based builder’s Defiant-class pilot boat lineup, combining a proven hull form with a modern…

A new icebreaking tugboat built by Blount Boats in Rhode Island has been delivered to the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to work in the Niagara River to help alleviate shoreline flooding and reduce the likelihood of ice limiting the power production at large hydro plants along the Niagara River. The Breaker II joins a fleet of three boats that work every winter to install the Lake Erie—Niagara River Ice Boom—a series of 22 spans of steel pontoons that straddle the mouth of the…

Shipbuilder Metal Shark has delivered an 85- by 19.5-foot welded aluminum Near Coastal Patrol Vessel (NCPV) to the Dominican Republic’s Navy under a $54 million U.S. Navy contract to produce up to 13 Defiant-class patrol craft for U.S. partner nations.Christened Betelgeuse in keeping with the Dominican tradition of naming military vessels after constellations, the new patrol craft was built at Metal Shark’s Franklin, La. shipyard and officially incorporated into the Dominican…

Shipbuilder Metal Shark said it is building a welded aluminum 55’ x 17’ pilot boat for the Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association in Mississippi, scheduled for delivery later this year.Designed in-house, the new 55 Defiant Pilot being built for Pascagoula Pilots incorporates the“faceted hull” design initially developed by Metal Shark for the U.S. Navy 40 PB program, and features an enhanced version of Metal Shark’s “pillarless glass” in a two-tiered, reverse-raked arrangement.The builder…

Metal Shark Building Four 350-Passenger Vessels and an Additional 150-Passenger Vessel for NYC Ferry. Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark is once again building multiple high-speed aluminum catamaran passenger vessels for the NYC Ferry Service Operated by Hornblower. In early August, Metal Shark received orders from Hornblower for four 97’ x 28’, 350-passenger USCG Subchapter K vessels, which are a new and larger platform than the fleet of 150-passenger vessels NYC Ferry currently operates. An additional 85’, 150-passenger USCG Subchapter T vessel has also been ordered. All of the new vessels are currently in production at Metal Shark’s Franklin, Louisiana waterfront shipyard, with accelerated delivery timelines calling for all five vessels to complete and deliver in 2018.

The construction of up to 20 new ferries for New York City is arguably the most exciting maritime new construction project in the U.S. this year. Last month we visited with Cameron Clark, Corporate Vice President, Development and Special Projects, Hornblower, the project manager for the new Citywide Ferry by Hornblower fleet, who discussed the challenges and opportunities ahead. Hornblower has, in the span of 36 years, become the force in the U.S. ferry market, with more than 2,000 employees and 20 million passenger trips annually, including a cumulative staff of 700 in the New York City area.

Michigan Wheel Marine and Nakashima Propeller Co. Ltd. have announced a new strategic partnership that is designed to combine their respective business strengths and promote cooperation in developing and expanding their global marine propulsion businesses. Negotiations have been ongoing for several months during which time business operations of both organizations have continued to expand, and it is on the foundation of this strength that the deal was signed. As part of the agreement Nakashima has acquired a 30% stock holding in Michigan Wheel Marine. It is the latest of several strategic moves that Michigan have made in recent years.

SkipperLiner of LaCrosse, WI, recently launched a passenger/vehicle barge and towboat ferry. Propellers: Michigan Wheel 32" x 21 pitch, bronze. The PRIDE OF CASSVILLE was built for the City of Cassville WI. She will transport vehicles and passengers across the Mississippi River between Cassville, WI and IA. This service connects two National Scenic Byways: the Great River Road and the Iowa Great River Road. The PRIDE OF CASSVILLE replaces the CHARLIE D that has been in service in Cassville since 1966. The Cassville ferry is Wisconsin's oldest operating ferry, they have operating since 1833.

Kvichak Marine Industries recently constructed and delivered the R/V Bay Hydro II, a 54 ft foil-assisted catamaran, to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which will be based at NOAA’s facility in Solomons, MD. The contract was awarded early last year following a competitive tender process. The catamaran is fitted with a 3 ft x 7 ft moon pool cut through the main deck amidships. The moon pool is closed by a sliding structural hatch in the bottom of the tunnel and a top-mounted deck grate when not in use.

As you read this, there are two beautiful new Skipperliner luxury charter vessels "wintering" in New Orleans and will be available for tours during the annual PVA Maritrends meeting in early February. After that they will complete their delivery run down the Mississippi River, into the Gulf of Mexico through the Panama Canal and up the West Coast of the United States to southern California. Their trip began 1500 miles upriver at Skipperliner's factory in Lacrosse, Wisc. in December. Pacific Avalon Yacht Charters of Newport Beach, Calif. owns the two vessels and will put both of them into service this spring. The 128-ft. Ambassador will work out of the homeport of Newport Beach, while the 148-ft. Majestic will dock in San Diego, Calif.

There are several quick conclusions you can draw about passenger boat construction in the new millennium. First it is a smaller market than 10 years ago with far fewer boats being built today than a decade ago. Secondly almost all of these vessels are built on the east or west coast. There are virtually no passenger boats being built in the south. Third, the number one vessel type being built is the ferryboat and more specifically the all-passenger ferry that shuttles people at 25 knots or better. In the years between 1987 and 1993 shipyards all over the country were building 600-passenger excursion-dinner boats in great numbers as sightseeing and dining vessels on America’s great rivers, lakes and bays became increasingly popular.

The new 440-ft. (134-m) monohull high-speed ferry Corsaire 13000 will soon undergo speed trials at the French shipyard Alstom Leroux Naval, and the successful testing and subsequent operation of the advanced vessel will prove the value of the complete propulsion system supplied by MTU. The ship is planned to operate for the French SNCM (Societe Nationale Maritime Corse-Mediterranee) on the 189-n m. crossing from Marseille and the island Corsica at 42 knots. The ship's propulsion and power generation system — virtually all of which was supplied by MTU — is truly one of the vessel's distinguishing features. The engines, gas turbines, gearboxes…

Today's commercial vessel owners are becoming increasingly creative in order to extend the life of existing vessels. Typically, a commercial steel hull can last for more than 50 years. However, rugged use may call for extensive repair of a vessel to keep it sailing. Market changes may demand that a vessel originally design for one mission is converted to a new and hopefully more profitable use. Most repair work done in shipyards is for five-year regulatory inspections to meet Coast Guard requirements. Often shafts and props are repaired during this inspection, as are sea chests and rudders. Anodes may be replaced as well. A high profile…

Today's commercial vessel owners are becoming increasingly creative in order to extend the life of existing vessels. Typically, a commercial steel hull can last for more than 50 years. However, rugged use may call for extensive repair of a vessel to keep it sailing. Market changes may demand that a vessel originally design for one mission is converted to a new and hopefully more profitable use. Most repair work done in shipyards is for five-year regulatory inspections to meet Coast Guard requirements. Often shafts and props are repaired during this inspection, as are sea chests and rudders. Anodes may be replaced as well. A high profile…