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Todd Pacific News

16 Aug 2023

Washington State Ferries Awards Vigor Contract to Convert Its Largest Vessels to Hybrid-electric Power

© David Johnson / Adobe Stock

Washington State Ferries has tapped local shipyard Vigor to convert up to three of its Jumbo Mark II class ferries to low-emission hybrid-electric power.Vigor's $150 million winning bid for the contract came in about $16 million under the second place bid from another Washington shipyard, but was still approximately $30 million above the state’s $120 million estimate for the project. Vigor has been awarded approximately $100 million for the conversion of two vessels, with a fixed-price option to convert the third vessel in 2025.WSF…

06 Sep 2018

Washington State Ferries Looks to Go Greener

Jumbo Mark II class ferry Wenatchee (Photo: Jim Culp / WSDOT)

Washington State Ferries has begun a project to transition the largest vessels in its fleet to cleaner hybrid-electric power.The three ferries in the operator's Jumbo Mark II class, the Tacoma, Wenatchee and Puyallup, were built from 1997 to 1999 at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle. Each vessel can carry up to 2,499 passengers and 202 vehicles, making them the largest in the Washington State fleet.The 460 footers are also the fleet's biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions.

18 May 2017

Ex-HMAS Sydney Retires to Western Australia

Ex-HMAS Sydney has left Sydney Harbour to be towed to Western Australia for recycling, says Minister for Defence Personnel Media Release. Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan said the frigate will be recycled by Australian company Birdon Pty Ltd. “Ex-HMAS Sydney had an illustrious career during her 32 years in service with the Royal Australian Navy,” Mr Tehan said. “The Adelaide class frigate was involved in operations spanning the Middle East, East Timor, Fiji and the Solomon Islands and earned a Meritorious Unit Citation during the First Gulf War in 1991. “She was built at the Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, USA, and commissioned there on 29 January 1983.

08 Nov 2015

Sydney farewells Namesake RAN Ship

Australia has farewelled a Royal Australian Navy ship that has served the country for over three decades in a ceremony today on Sydney Harbour. The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK MC (Retd), together with the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, attended the decommissioning of HMAS Sydney, at her homeport of Garden Island, Sydney. Minister Payne paid tribute to the service of ship’s company past and present. The Australian White Ensign was lowered from the ship for the last time, and handed to Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander David Murphy, RAN, as is the tradition for Navy during decommissioning ceremonies.

24 Jul 2015

Final West Coast Frigate Decommissioned

USS Gary (FFG 51) arrives at Naval Base San Diego after completing its final deployment before decomissioning. (US Navy photo by Donnie W. Ryanl)

The U.S. Navy has decommissioned its last remaining Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate on the West coast as past and current crew, plank owners, former and current commanding officers, namesake relatives and friends and family gathered at Naval Base San Diego July 23 to bid farewell to USS Gary (FFG 51) after 31 years of service. The decommissioning ceremony was led by the ship's Commanding Officer Cmdr. Steven McDowell, with guest speakers including Hon. William Albrecht, World War II veteran and a recipient of the Bronze Star, and retired Capt. Dallas Bethea.

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.

12 Aug 2013

Laying the Keel; Carefully

The Kennewick ferry was completed at Harbor Island in Seattle in 2011.

Looking toward the future and with a weather eye on what could come next, Oregon-based Vigor Industrial launched a six-month training program this July in welding, fabricating and fitting with South Seattle Community College at a new center on Harbor Island. Vigor acquired the site overlooking downtown Seattle when it bought Todd Pacific Shipyards in 2011. And, as an active bidder for the U.S. Coast Guard’s coveted Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program, Vigor also knows that they’ll need to perform when the time comes. A skilled workforce will be an important part of that equation.

04 Apr 2013

Proceeding Quietly with Vigor

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 acquisition markets. After acquiring Todd Pacific Shipyards in 2011 for $130 million, Vigor also diversified its geographic offerings when it scooped up Alaska Ship and Drydock in Ketchikan after raising $75 million through private equity firm Endeavour Capital. Vigor CEO Frank Foti continues to build scale through acquisitions, while diversifying the company’s construction and repair capabilities to include cargo fleets, barges and workboats, ferries, and US Navy and Coast Guard vessels, among others.

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.

07 Feb 2012

Vigor to Acquire Alaska Ship & Drydock

Alaska Ship & Drydock: current view & planned development. (Image courtesy: Vigor.com)

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…

15 Dec 2011

Build Team for WA Ferry Announced

Build-In-Washington Team announced for Washington State's next new ferry. Multi-company approach means 500 jobs across the region. Major members of the build-in-Washington subcontracting team that will build the state’s new 144-car ferry are now set, as prime contractor US Fab today announced final subcontracting agreements with companies, including Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island, Jesse Engineering of Tacoma, Vigor Marine of Everett and Eltech Electric of Seattle. The multi-company, multi-town approach supports more than 500 direct jobs around Puget Sound, including many new hires, and will support an estimated 2,000 additional indirect jobs in the state.

02 Nov 2011

VIGOR, US Fab Deliver Ferry to WSF

Receive Green Light to Begin Building Another. Shipbuilding to Generate More Than 500 Jobs at Two Dozen State Firms. One completed, one to begin. Even as VIGOR Industrial this week delivered the final new 64-car ferry to Washington State Ferries, the company’s US Fab shipbuilding division received a green light from the state to begin constructing the system’s next vessel. On Monday, the companies delivered the state’s newest ferry, Kennewick, to WSF, three months ahead of schedule.

01 Nov 2011

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. The Kwa-di Tabil construction supported more than 360 family-wage jobs during the past two years at Seattle’s Harbor Island shipyard…

24 Oct 2011

MSC: Backlog to Continue into 2012

Maritime Services Corporation (MSC), a marine interior company specializing in turnkey installations, reports that it has a backlog of contracts exceeding $10.5m in value for assignments to be completed this November through March. A $6 million contract with Princess Cruise Lines is now in fabrication at the company headquarters in Hood River, Oregon for the Sapphire Princess. Installation will take place in Victoria, B.C. in January. In addition, MSC will begin modifications on two dinner vessels next month for Portland Spirit in Portland, Oregon. Those jobs will also be complete in January. MSC’s Southampton, U.K. office will begin in November a $1.4 million refurbishment contract in Hamburg, Germany for Carnival, U.K. on the Oriana. Also next month, MSC U.K.

14 Sep 2011

Bryan Nichols Joins Growing Vigor Shipyard Sales Team

Bryan Nichols

Bryan Nichols, one of the leading maritime business development professionals in the Pacific Northwest, is joining forces with VIGOR Industrial, which owns and operates the premier shipyards in the region. Nichols joins VIGOR as a sales representative for the company, which builds, repairs and modernizes commercial fishing and cargo vessels, ferries and military ships at six locations in the Northwest. Nichols had been sales and marketing manager at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island, Wash. “Joining VIGOR is an exciting next step for me,” Nichols said.

13 May 2011

WSDOT Welcomes 64-Car Ferry to Fleet

Image courtesy WSDOT

The newest vessel to be added to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) fleet of ferries was delivered by builder Todd Pacific Shipyards today. The 64-car ferry, Salish, will restore two-boat service to the Port Townsend/Coupeville route in July. “We feel a great sense of satisfaction after having built and delivered this complex vessel,” said Steve Welch, president of Todd Pacific Shipyards. “It’s going to transport millions of passengers for the next fifty years or more.

14 Apr 2011

New WSDOT Ferry Salish in Sea Trials

Photo courtesy WSDOT

The new Washington State ferry Salish is completing builder’s sea trials in Puget Sound. The vessel is expected to begin serving the Port Townsend-Coupeville route this summer, restoring full two-boat service to the route for the first time since 2007. Contractor Todd Pacific Shipyards is conducting sea trials to demonstrate the vessel to U.S. Coast Guard and WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) inspectors before WSF accepts delivery of the vessel. Later this spring, WSF crews will begin…

07 Feb 2011

Newest WSDOT ferry Salish Heads to Everett Shipyard

Photo courtesy WSDOT

Washington’s second new Kwa-di Tabil Class ferry, the Salish, will make an initial journey under tow on Monday, Feb. 7. Todd Pacific Shipyards is moving the Salish to Everett Shipyard for final outfitting and system testing prior to conducting dock and sea trials.

11 Jan 2011

Todd Shipyards Contract for USCGC Polar Star

Todd Shipyards Corp. announced that the U.S. Coast Guard has awarded to its subsidiary, Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp., a $16,008,228 modification to previously awarded contract HSCG85-09-C-6BX667 in support of USCGC Polar Star's (WAGB-10) reactivation since being in "Caretaker Status" nearly four years. According to a release, repairs and alterations performed during the planned dry-docking availability of the icebreaker are in the third phase of the cutter's overhaul. The contract modification provides for the alteration and repair of ship's systems, engines and shipboard equipment. The work will be accomplished at Todd Pacific's Seattle shipyard beginning immediately, and is expected to be complete in July 2011.

05 Oct 2010

Konzel Donjon Marine VP Ops & Engineering

Photo courtesy Donjon Marine Co.

Donjon Marine, Co., Inc., a global marine services provider based in New Jersey, has hired Stephen N. Konzel as Vice President of Operations & Engineering. Previously serving as Vice President and General Manager of NETSCo Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering since 2007, Konzel brings a broad array of experience and skills to his new position with Donjon including strategic business planning, staff supervision and development, financial reporting, analysis and contract administration…

17 Aug 2010

Propulsion Software May Allow Ferry to Begin Service

Officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division said that changes to software controlling the propeller system on the new Chetzemoka ferry may provide a temporary solution to vibration issues first discovered last month. Additional sea trials are scheduled for the middle of next week after representatives of the propulsion-control company write software exerting greater control over the engine “ramping,” which allows the bow propeller to slow the ship as it approaches the dock. The goal is to ramp up the propeller speed over a period of a few seconds longer, as opposed to a more sudden and quick thrust of power.

07 Jul 2010

West Coast Maritime Action

While maritime activity showing renewed signs of life along the entire Pacific Coast, from Prince Rupert to San Diego, shipbuilding is becoming ever-more dependant on the US Navy and Jones Act ships, while ship-repair yards are focused on a broad spectrum of boats and ships. In California, some of that work has focused on re-powering harbor craft to meet the state’s stringent environmental regulations. Along the Columbia River, shipyards remain centered on meeting the on-going demand for ocean-going barges…

11 May 2010

NSRP Eight New Shipbuilding R&D Projects

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has awarded funding for eight new research projects as part of the Navy/Industry co-funded portfolio focusing on cost reduction in the U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair industry. These new projects, valued at approximately $16m including industry cost share, were among those proposed in response to an October 2009 Research Announcement. Fueled by Navy funding that is matched by cost share provided by industry teams, the NSRP collaboration periodically funds major R&D projects through which new technologies and innovative processes can be developed and implemented as a means of reducing shipbuilding and repair costs for the Navy and the industry at large.

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