C18 Acert News

This year, despite innumerable challenges and setbacks, a great number of new U.S.-flagged vessels made their way into service. In addition to Maid of the Mist's new electric tour boats James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla featured Wednesday, the newbuilds highlighted below are some of the most noteworthy to come out of U.S. shipyards in 2020.DredgerU.S. dredging contractors have been adding tonnage in a big way. This Spring, Callan Marine added a significant piece to the U.S. fleet with its new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur.

Shipbuilder All American Marine, Inc. (AAM) said it has launched an aluminum catamaran built to patrol Texas state and federal waters for the law enforcement division of Texas Parks and Wildlife. The 80’ x 27’ (OAL) Captain Murchison features twin CAT C18 ACERT D Engines, with Hamilton Jet HM 521 waterjets and is built to USCG Subchapter T standards. It is also the first vessel in North America to feature Hamilton Jet’s innovative Advanced Vessel Control (AVX) system. The new AVX features include both a station keeping and a JETanchor positioning system.

Two newly built 20m catamaran passenger ferries have recently been delivered to Nigeria. The vessels, Confidence 1 and Confidence 2, are the first in a series of four vessels built by SAM Aluminium in Singapore to support Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) with operation to Bonny Island in the Gulf of Guinea. The vessels carry 50 passengers with luggage, additional hot shot cargo and have crew accommodation. Built to operate in Sea Area 2, with a sea state up to 2.5m wave height…

Built Built by Austal Ships, Rashid Behbudov, sistership to the Muslim Magomeyev and the second Incat Crowther 70m Catamaran Fast Crew Boat, has been delivered for Caspian Marine Services. Muslim Magomayev, the first of this design developed by Incat Crowther, was built by Incat Tasmania and delivered to CMS in 2014. Both Muslim Magomayev and Rashid Behbedov are engineered for the Ampelmann walk-to-work system, which transfers crew to offshore platforms in day-to-day operation as well as in emergency situations.

Construction is underway for the second 70m Catamaran crew boat sister ship to the Muslim Magomayev, designed by Incat Crowther. Muslim Magomayev is a first-of-type vessel which Incat Crowther developed in close conjunction with Caspian Marine Services (CMS). Incat Crowther has undertaken extensive support work in the field, including involvement in engineering for the fitting of an Ampellmann walk-to-work stabilized access platform, making it the first catamaran to have such a system and its structure fully integrated into its design. The operational success of the vessel has led CMS to order a second unit, with construction having well advanced at Austal Ships’ Western Australian shipyard.

Surrounded on three sides by water with the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Golden Gate Strait to the north, and San Francisco Bay to the East, the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) currently relies on two old and refurbished fireboats, the Phoenix (built in 1954) and the Guardian (built in 1951) to serve as fire protection assets for the waters around the City. San Francisco requires fireboats for a wide range of protective coastal duties. Since San Francisco lies near a major earthquake fault line…

Asian shipbuilder Strategic Marine launched the Shanna, the first of two 45-meter ro-pax catamarans to the National Ferries Company of Oman. The vessel is the first of its kind built by Strategic at its Vietnam shipyard, underscoring the operation's multi-markets shipbuilding capability. The sister vessel, the Jawharat, will deliver at the end of November. "The global ferry market is of significant importance to us and we have strong pedigree in building these and similar types of vessels in our other regional yards," said Reece Newbold, Group Business Development Manager.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc. of Seattle, Wash., recently delivered the P/V Bering, a 50’ x 15.5’ pilot vessel to the Southwest Alaska Pilots Association (SWAPA). Bering will operate in the coastal areas of South Central Alaska. After acceptance of the Bering, the SWAPA crew and a Kvichak technician departed Seattle and began transiting north to Valdez, Alaska. The Bering’s delivery encompassed 1350 nautical miles averaging 25 knots over five days (53.9 hours run time on the engines). Weather conditions were generally favorable, however Johnstone Strait in B.C.

The CCGS Vladykov is the first of three new Near-Shore Fisheries Research Vessels to be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard. Commissioned in August 2012, the vessel was constructed at Meridien Maritime Inc. in Matane, Quebec to a design developed by Robert Allan Ltd of Vancouver, B.C. The CCGS Vladykov and its sister vessels will conduct scientific research in the Newfoundland and Labrador region. Secondary missions include search and rescue, environmental response and the support of marine programs for other government agencies.

In 2011, Teknicraft Design of New Zealand designed and engineered what is believed to be one of the first quad propeller propulsion systems for a catamaran hull in the U.S. Designed for a newbuild, 134-foot research vessel recently delivered to C & C Technologies, Inc. of Lafayette, LA, the propulsion system had to accommodate many multi-missioned tasks. These will include shallow water hydrographic surveys, deep water offshore surveys and AUV operations. “It’s been about a three or four year story for me…

A New Option for Catamaran Workboats. In 2011, Teknicraft Design of New Zealand designed and engineered what is believed to be one of the first quad propeller propulsion systems for a catamaran hull in the U.S. Designed for a newbuild, 134-foot research vessel recently delivered to C & C Technologies, Inc. of Lafayette, LA, the propulsion system had to accommodate many multi-missioned tasks. These will include shallow water hydrographic surveys, deep water offshore surveys and AUV operations.

At 134-feet (40.8 meters) in length the research vessel Sea Scout is the largest catamaran built by All American Marine in Bellingham, Washington and the largest vessel designed by Nic deWaal’s Teknicraft Design of Auckland New Zealand. With its length and 37-foot 4-inch beam, this is not only a large vessel it is, as C&C Technologies Survey Services newest vessel, a highly sophisticated and complex craft. A vessel such of this has a dual personality. The first being a crewed vessel designed to get from place to place in an efficient manner.

Diverse Projects' latest vessel Black Pearl was launched on 29 December in Whangarei. Pre-dawn rituals of Takahi (Maori waka launch traditions) and a blessing ceremony started at 5am, followed by the actual launch just before high tide at approximately 2pm. The Diverse Projects team of contractors will now complete finishing touches to the interior of the boat and commence sea trials and system commissioning. Celebrations for the official handover and christening will be held in Auckland on January 22, before the vessel heads off on her maiden voyage in February 2011.

Aluminum Boats Australia’s (ABA) latest vessel has been delivered to her new owners and has successfully completed her delivery voyage from Brisbane to Madang Port, Papua New Guinea. The vessel left the yard on December 3, arriving at Alotau, PNG just three days later. She then proceeded to Madang Port where she arrived on December 8. The Carrie is a crew transfer catamaran for the PNG mine operations of the China Metallurgical Group Corporation-sponsored Ramu NiCo. With capacity…

All American Marine, Inc. (AAM) of Bellingham, Wash. and C & C Technologies, Inc. (C & C) of Lafayette, La. announced the commencement of construction of a new catamaran survey vessel. C & C Technologies recently signed a contract with All American Marine to construct a new 134-ft by 37-ft aluminum catamaran for survey operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The two companies have been developing the design concept for the advanced vessel for nearly two years. Teknicraft Design Ltd.

Diverse Projects' Build Project 08 was recently transported overland from its construction facility at Profab Engineering in Palmerston North, to Napier. It was one of New Zealand’s largest ever over land yacht movements. Diverse Projects took on the challenge in keeping with their virtual shipyard approach, moving projects between facilities to achieve best outcomes overall in both quality and value, an approach similar to that of larger European yards. Tranzcarr Heavy Haulage moved the vessel over three nights, beginning Oct. 18.

All American Marine, Inc. and Teknicraft Design, Ltd. have successfully made a proposal to Kitsap Transit to bring a new passenger ferry to Rich Passage. On Tuesday, April 21st, the commissioners of Kitsap Transit unanimously approved $5.3m for the purchase of a 77 ft ultra-low wake Teknicraft catamaran and on May 18th, All American Marine received the signed notice-to-proceed. The high speed passenger catamaran will carry 118 passengers and operate between Bremerton and Seattle, Washington at speeds of 29 to 38 knots.

Build Project 08 is currently under construction at Profab Central Engineering Ltd in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The hull was successfully rolled over in October, and the superstructure is now taking shape. Stage two of the program, interior, paintwork and finishing details will later take place in Whangarei, New Zealand. BP08’s sleek lines were designed by Craig Loomes Design Group. The 103.3 ft passagemaker is being built to Germanischer Lloyd 100 A5 class and New Zealand MSA survey. With Twin Caterpillar C18 ACERT 600HP engines, she will cruise at 12.5 knots.