Senesco Marine, headquartered in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, announced today that it has secured two new
major repair contracts in what company officials describe as an important milestone to the shipyard’s recently established repair business. The
two contracts include the University of Rhode Island’s research vessel the Endeavor and a tug owned by McAllister Towing.
Crews at Senesco Marine are performing routine maintenance on the Endeavor, removing the tail shaft for inspection, replacing bearings and sea valves. They are also painting the underbody and hull. “Over the years when the Endeavor needed repair work I’ve had to go to
various ports throughout the country,” said Bill Hahn, Marine Superintendent at URI School of Oceanography. “The fact that we have a confident and competent shipyard here in Rhode Island is a great boon for us,” said Hahn. The repairs to the Endeavor are expected to be completed by the beginning of November.
The contract to work on the Endeavor was enhanced by the recent certification of Senesco Marine’s dry dock, the “Leslie G”. “There is no doubt that the Certification of the ‘Leslie G’ by Heger Dry Dock was a major reason URI chose Senesco Marine for the Endeavor’s repairs,” said Gary Schuler, CEO of Senesco Marine.
The Endeavor was built in 1976 and underwent a mid-life refit in 1993. The Endeavor is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated under a Charter Party Agreement by the Graduate School of Oceanography at URI. It has a steel hull with aluminum superstructure and is 185 feet long with a 33 foot molded beam. It has a range of 8,000 nautical miles at 12 knots and an endurance of 30 days. The vessel is home ported in Narragansett, RI at the URI Bay Campus.
Senesco Marine’s
repair contract with McAllister Towing and Transportation, Inc. involves making repairs to one of the company’s tugs. Crews at Senesco Marine painted the bottom of the tug and added keel coolers. Crews also took thickness gauging of the hull to determine if there were any weak spots that needed immediate attention.
“My experience with Senesco Marine’s repair facility was productive and pleasant. Their people were easy to work with, and on schedule,” said Bruno Rosener Senior Port Engineer for McAllister Towing and Transportation, Inc. “When I need future repair work, I’m taking my tugs back to Senesco,” said Rosener.