Alaska Diesel News

Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation said it has won a contract to build a new high-speed, harbor pilot boat for the Virginia Pilot Association.Scheduled for delivery in mid-2023, the new vessel will be the pilots’ tenth launch built by Gladding-Hearn.The all-aluminum launch displaces about 2,000 pounds less than a similar sized offshore pilot boat. As a result, the boat accelerates faster and reaches a higher top speed, explained Peter Duclos, the shipyard’s co-president and director of sales.

The Virginia Pilot Association has taken delivery of a Chesapeake Class MK II launch from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, its ninth pilot boat built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard since 1983.The Virginia pilots’ new launch Richmond incorporates the performance benefits of Volvo Penta’s IPS three-pod system and Humphree interceptors. “The combination of the Volvo Penta IPS system and the Humphree interceptors produces lower sound levels and improved comfort and higher speed, while burning about 25 percent less fuel…

The Virginia Pilot Association has ordered a Chesapeake-class launch from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, its ninth pilot boat built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard since 1983.Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding said that its Somerset shipyard delivered 19 Chesapeake-class pilot boats  to 11 pilot associations throughout the United States.The Virginia pilots’ new boat incorporates the performance benefits of Volvo Penta’s IPS 3 pod system and Humphree interceptors. “The combination of the Volvo Penta IPS system and the Humphree interceptors gives the pilots faster acceleration and higher speeds and improved comfort, while burning about 25 percent less fuel…

The Virginia Pilot Association has taken delivery of a Chesapeake class MKII launch from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding. The MKII, a new generation of the shipyard’s Chesapeake class launch, is the Virginia pilots’ eighth Gladding-Hearn pilot boat.The Somerset, Mass. shipyard has delivered 20 Chesapeake class pilot boats throughout the U.S. since introducing the series in 2003. The latest improvements incorporate the performance benefits of Volvo Penta’s IPS 3 pod system, which provides for higher speed…

The Virginia Pilot Boat Corporation has ordered a Chesapeake Class MKII launch from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding. The MKII, a new generation of the shipyard’s popular, smaller class of pilot boats, is the Virginia pilots’ eighth Gladding-Hearn pilot boat. Delivery is scheduled for 2018. Since the Chesapeake Class pilot boat was introduced by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 2003, 17 have been delivered to pilot associations throughout the U.S. The latest improvements incorporate the performance benefits of Volvo Penta’s IPS 3 pod system, which provides for higher speed, lower fuel consumption, and more comfort, explained Peter Duclos, the shipyard’s president. With a deep-V hull designed by C.

Sabine Pilots in Port Arthur, Texas has received a new all-aluminum pilot boat, Port Arthur. With a deep-V hull designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, the Chesapeake class pilot boat was built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation of Somerset, Mass. The vessel measures 53.6 feet overall, with a 17.8-foot beam and a 4.8-foot draft. The launch is powered by twin Caterpillar C-18s diesels, each rated at 715 Bhp at 2,100 rpm. Loaded top speed is 28 knots. The engines turn five-blade NiBrAl propellers via Twin Disc MGX-5135A Quick Shift gear boxes.

Export hulls – through the FMS Program, as well as Direct Sales – are a key piece of the business model. Even as the crash in energy prices feeds the oversupply of offshore support vessels – a key staple of U.S. boatbuilding diets – and the dwindling backlogs of some so-called ‘second tier’ yards,  a number of U.S. boat builders are still seeing robust demand for security vessels. Separately, tightening federal, state, municipal and overseas budgets are being trumped by the increased need for security craft that can perform more than one function.

Gladding-Hearn shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation has delivered a second 70-foot tactical response vessel to New York City’s Harbor Patrol Unit. The two sister-ships were part of a five-boat order from the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Measuring 68.8 feet on deck, with a 19-foot beam and 3.8-foot draft, the new high-speed, Tactical Response Vessel features C. Raymond Hunt’s deep-V hull and a “squared-off” bow, with fendering and knees installed above the main deck to facilitate bow landings.

Having delivered its third 61 ft. patrol/rescue boat for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) last year, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, announced it has delivered the first of two 70 ft. Tactical Response vessels for the department’s Harbor Patrol Unit. Measuring 68.8 feet on deck, with a 19-foot beam and 3.8-foot draft, the new high-speed, Tactical Response Vessel features C. Raymond Hunt’s deep-V hull and a “squared-off” bow, with fendering and knees installed above the main deck to facilitate bow landings.

Sabine  Pilots in Port Arthur, Texas has ordered a new pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. The pilots’ first launch, built by the Mass.-based shipyard, is scheduled for delivery in late 2015. With a deep-V hull designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, the all-aluminum Chesapeake class pilot boat measures 53.6 feet overall, with a 17.8-foot beam and a 4.8-foot draft. The launch will be powered by twin Caterpillar C-18s diesels, each rated at 715 Bhp at 2100 rpm. Loaded top speed will reach 28 knots. The engines will turn 5-blade NiBrAl propellers via Twin Disc MGX-5135A Quick Shift gear boxes. A Humphree Interceptor trim tab system, with automatic trim control, will be installed at the transom. The vessel will be equipped with a 12kW Alaska Diesel genset.

With more than a dozen patrol boats and a fireboat built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, operating in New York Harbor, the Somerset, Mass., shipyard delivered a third 61-foot patrol/rescue boat to the New York Harbor Unit. Two 70-footers are also being built for the NYPD harbor patrol. Measuring 61.6 feet on deck with a 17-foot beam and 3-foot draft, the boat was designed by C. Raymond Hunt and features the shipyard’s popular Chesapeake Class pilot boat deep-V hull.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has delivered the first of six Chesapeake Class pilot boats for coastal and offshore patrol operations and port security, provided by the Colombian Department of the Navy. Designed by C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, the all-aluminum deep-V hull measures 56.6 ft. overall, with a 17.8-ft. beam and 3-ft. draft and has a top speed of 27 knots. The launch is powered by twin MAN R6-800CRM diesel engines, each delivering 800 Bhp at 2,300 rpm. The engines turn Ultra Jet UJ-452 water jets through ZF 360 gears. The boat is equipped with a 16kW Alaska Diesel genset. At the transom is a winch-operated, rotating davit over the water-level recessed platform for rescue operations.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has delivered the first of six Chesapeake Class pilot boats for coastal and offshore patrol operations and port security, provided by the Colombian Department of the Navy. Designed by C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, the all-aluminum deep-V hull measures 56.6 feet overall, with a 17.8-foot beam and 3-foot draft, and has a top speed of 27 knots. The launch is powered by twin MAN R6-800CRM diesel engines, each delivering 800 Bhp at 2,300 rpm. The engines turn Ultra Jet UJ-452 water jets through ZF 360 gears.

With more than a dozen patrol boats and a fireboat built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation and operating in New York Harbor, the NYPD’s Harbor Unit turned again to the Mass.-based shipyard for five new patrol/rescue boats, three 61-footers and two 70-footers. The first high-speed vessel, outfitted for the harbor unit’s dive team, was delivered November 4. Measuring 61 feet on deck with a 17-foot beam and 3-foot draft, the boat was designed by C. Raymond Hunt and features the shipyard’s popular Chesapeake Class pilot boat deep-V hull.

Geoff Conrad has been with Cummins Inc. Marine for 20 years and, according to the company, in those two decades has been instrumental in enabling Cummins to grow its commercial marine sales at a 20 percent compound annual rate. Cummins add that Geoff has led their efforts to refine and develop its marine product line and has recently worked on the Cummins 95L project. Reflecting on his life-long connection with the marine industry, Geoff Conrad has played a major role in helping to create the industry’s most comprehensive “Total Cost of Ownership” (TCO) model for fleet owners. Geoff brings with him a strong leadership and sales skill set and is well known in the Northwest among naval architects, builders, service centers, and among fleet owners.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, is building the first of three Chesapeake Class pilot boats for coastal and offshore patrol operations and port security provided by the Colombian Department of the Navy. Designed by C. Raymond Hunt and Associates, the all-aluminum deep-V hull measures 56.6 feet overall, with a 17.8-foot beam and 3-foot draft and will have a top speed of 27 knots. The launch will be powered by twin MAN R6-800CRM diesel engines, each delivering 800 Bhp at 2,100 rpm. The engines turn Ultra Jet UJ-452 water jets through ZF 360 gears. The boat is equipped with a 16kW Alaska Diesel genset. At the transom is a winch-operated, rotating davit over the water-level recessed platform for rescue operations.

The NYPD’s Harbor Unit ordered from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp.,  five new patrol boats, three 61-footers and two 70-footers. The yard has previously built more than a dozen patrol boats and a fireboats for operation in New York Harbor. The first high-speed patrol boat, designed by C. Raymond Hunt and outfitted for the unit’s dive team, features the shipyard’s Chesapeake Class pilot boat deep-V hull. The new boat measures 61-ft. on deck, with a 17-ft. beam and 3-ft. draft. Unique to this hull design is the squared-off bow, with fendering and knees raised above the main deck to facilitate bow landings. The heated forward-leaning windows in the front and the side and aft windows on the flush-mounted pilothouse offer 360-degree visibility of search and rescue operations.

Kvichak Marine Industries recently constructed and delivered the M/V John A.B. Dillard, Jr., a Debris Removal Vessel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco Bay District. The USACE San Francisco Bay District has a unique mix of duties, including keeping the navigation and shipping lanes of the greater San Francisco Bay region and its lower tributaries free of floating debris deemed as hazardous to marine vessels. This mission is especially demanding based on the diverse topography and ever changing weather conditions.

Van Cappellen USA, the North American affiliate office of the Van Cappellen Consultancy - the Netherlands (noise and vibration control), announces a joint technical development contract with Alaska Diesel Electric - Northern Lights of Andover, Massachusetts. shelters for a separate primary US military logistics contractor. for this application largely on their track record for reliability and international distribution. Van Cappellen USA will supply overall technical design for a series of Northern Lights diesel generator sets destined to operate in the most extreme conditions. Noise, vibration and thermal profile attenuation will be achieved using design engineering from the Van Cappellen Dutch office. NoVitechniek brand name.

Vallejo Baylink, the San Francisco Bay community’s municipal commuter operation that was initiated five years ago, is now carrying some 800, passengers a year. With thousands of miles on the operation’s first catamaran ferry, originally known as the “Jet Cat Express,” an InCat vessel built by Gladding Hearn Shipbuilding, Vallejo Baylink management decided to send the well-used boat to Nichols Brothers Boat Builders’ Washington yard for a complete rebuild. In December, after nine months in Nichols Brothers’ Whidbey Island yard, the thoroughly renovated and enlarged vessel headed back home with a new name: M/V Vallejo. Marty Robbins, general manager of Vallejo Baylink…

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.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has delivered its fifth high-speed water taxi, Gene Flatow, to New York City-based New York Water Taxi. Like the four sisters before her, the bright yellow, all-aluminum catamaran, designed by Incat Crowther, measures 72 ft long and 27.3 ft abeam, and draws 5 ft. The water taxi is USCG-certified to carry 149 passengers but limited to only 99 passengers when operating at the City’s “water taxi” designated docks. The vessel is powered by twin Cummins QSK 19-M diesel engines, each rated at 800 Bhp at 2100 rpm.

Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle recently completed stability tests and calculations for the KLONDIKE SPIRIT, an all-steel side-wheeler recently built on the Yukon River in Alaska. The vessel, which can carry up to 120 passengers, will be used to take tourists on daytrips through the scenic Yukon canyons downriver of Dawson (Yukon, Canada) when it begins operation in June, 2005. Constructed in Eagle City, Alaska, by Nick Turner and Charlie House, the vessel offers three passenger decks, a food service galley and two staterooms for crews. Eagle City is located along the Yukon River approximately 9 miles west of the Canadian border. The KLONDIKE SPIRIT is the first side-wheeler to be built on the Yukon in decades.