Pacific Northwest

AMCV Awards Columbia Queen Contract

American Classic Voyages (AMCV), granted a $6.4 million contract for construction completion and outfitting on Columbia Queen to Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island, Wash. The 161-passenger U.S.-flag riverboat, which will be readied by Nichols for service on the Columbia River system, will be operated under The Delta Queen Steamboat brand. Offering Pacific Northwest cruises beginning in April 2000, Columbia Queen will travel the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers during its eight-night vacation package, which features an overnight stay in Portland, as well as a seven-night cruise with various excursions. Scott Young, AMCV executive vice president and president of The Delta Queen Steamboat Co., said, "We are pleased that Nichols Brothers Boat Builders will be completing Columbia Queen. Nichols Brothers Boat Builders' 35-year history of boat building in the Pacific Northwest, skilled workers and competitive bid were important factors in our selection." Young added, "We look forward to offering passengers a new cruising experience with Delta Queen's style of quality and service."

Stennis 'Looks Ahead' to New Home in Washington

By Journalist 2nd Class Victoria Tobin, Public Affairs Center San Diego USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departed San Diego Jan. 5th for its new homeport in the Pacific Northwest. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is making the trip up the west coast to Bremerton, Wash. Shortly after arriving, the ship is scheduled for routine maintenance and technology upgrades for most of 2005 before its next scheduled deployment.

Todd Wins $6M Deal

Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp., Seattle Division, Seattle, Wash., is being awarded a $6,060,005 cost-plus-award-fee option under contract N00024-99-C-8503 for performance of Docking Phased Incremental Availability 2 of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The option is one of 18 on an existing 5-year contract for non-propulsion work on CVN 68 Class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers homeported in the Pacific Northwest, exclusive of the propulsion plant and exclusive of nuclear spaces and systems

New Vessel Sharing Agreement

Following the success of a previous vessel sharing agreement, Danish carrier Maersk Line announced the establishment of a new Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA) with French-based CMA-CGM utilizing both the Panama and Suez Canals, which will commence in May 2009. Additionally, further adjustments to the Maersk Line network will provide customers with significant benefits. This new VSA follows almost a year of successful cooperation between the two companies in a trans-Pacific agreement

PFI Marine Electric, Eltech Electric Partnership

Pacific Fishermen Shipyard and Electric LLC announced that it has agreed to sell its marine electrical operation, PFI Marine Electric, to a new company owned by the manager of the business, James Kaldestad, and George Hancock, owner of Eltech Electric Inc, another Seattle-based marine electrical contractor. Kaldestad will be President of PFI Marine Electric LLC, which will continue to operate at the Pacific Fishermen Shipyard in Ballard, Seattle and at Dutch Harbor, Alaska

Zim Receives New Container Ship

According to Reuters, Israeli shipping firm Zim, a unit of holding company Israel Corp., has received the first of 12 vessels it had ordered to meet an anticipated surge in demand as the global economy recovers. Zim said the new ship, Zim Los Angeles, had a capacity of 8,400 containers, and that a second ship with a capacity of 10,000 containers, Zim Djibouti, would be delivered in two weeks. Zim said the two vessels, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries

McGinnis Appointed VP Of Marketing

American Classic Voyages Co. has appointed Scott G. McGinnis vice president of marketing for its Delta Queen product group, which includes Delta Queen Steamboat Company and Delta Queen Coastal Voyages. McGinnis is responsible for all marketing activity on behalf of Delta Queen Steamboat Company's four riverboats, which cruise throughout the U.S. Heartland, South and Pacific Northwest, and Delta Queen Coastal Voyages' two ships

Todd Shipyards to Overhaul CVN-72

Todd Shipyards Corporation said that the U.S. Navy has awarded to its wholly owned subsidiary, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation, a $10,949,272 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-00-C-4152. This modification represents the exercise of an option for the Docking Planned Incremental Availability ("DPIA") for USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN- 72), at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard commencing on September 5, 2006 and is expected to be completed March 15, 2007

NSRP Elects New Chair and Vice Chairman

The Environmental Technology Panel of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has elected Jennifer Parker, from Bath Iron Works, as chairman and Frank (“Hogie”) Thorn, from Newport News Shipbuilding, to the position of vice-chairman. Parker replaces Mike Chee, of National Steel & Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), who held the panel’s chairman position for the pervious ten years. Thorn replaces Parker as the panel’s vice chairman.

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.