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Luther Blount News

07 Feb 2020

Are OSVs Fit for Refit for Offshore Wind?

BEFORE: Island Clipper: Island Offshore of Ulsteinvik, Norway, has had success with conversions.  “before” and “after”.  Photos: Island Offshore

While it is generally agreed that the nascent offshore wind energy market in the U.S. will be a newbuild market, there is a repair and conversion possibility for some stacked OSVs.Though estimates on the pace of the offshore wind energy market in the U.S. vary widely, the direction is clear: offshore wind will be a huge marketplace for construction and support vessels to be deployed in U.S. waters over the next decade. The starting point for estimated vessel demand is the raft of projects along the U.S. East Coast, and to a lesser extent, in the Pacific waters, now in the pipeline.

27 Jul 2020

Blount Boats: Ferries, Offshore Wind both Dominate Present, Future

Marcia Blount, President of Blount Boats

Marine News recently visited the Blount Boats facility in Warren, Rhode Island. While the year 2019 might be the ‘year of the woman’ in the eyes of the International Maritime Organization, the two women at the head of Blount Boats – Marcia & Julie Blount– have been a driving force in the U.S. boatbuilding market for decades. As Blount’s celebrates its 70th anniversary, read about the storied yard’s promising future.Founded in 1949, Blount Boats is a full-service shipyard with a customer base comprised of a variety of commercial and government entities including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S.

16 Aug 2019

Boatbuilding: Blount Powers Ahead

Julie & Marcia Blount, Blount Boats. Photo: Greg Trauthwein

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently visited the Blount Boats facility in Warren, Rhode Island. The year 2019 might be the ‘year of the woman’ in the eyes of the IMO, but the two women at the head of Blount Boats – Julie & Marcia Blount (pictured) – have been a driving force in the U.S. boatbuilding market for decades, building on the business that their father Luther Blount built starting in 1949. As 2019 is Blount Boat’s 70th anniversary, a full story on the yard, it’s history and evolution will appear in the October 2019 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News…

09 Oct 2013

Blount Boats Delivers New Fast Ferry

Blount Boats completed the 85’ Fire Islander in September 2013. The 382-passenger, 2 deck, all aluminum commuter boat will operate between Bay Shore Long Island and Fire Island on Great South Bay, Long Island, New York. The triple screw vessel is powered by Detroit Series 60 Tier II diesel engines, 600 hp each at 2,100 rpm with 2:1 ZF 550 reduction gears. At a displacement of 43.6 tons, she cruises at 19 knots at 70% of her horsepower load at full complement and 24 knots lightship at wide open throttle with very little wake.

23 May 2012

Cruise Ship Returns to Erie Canal

Brian U. Stratton, director of the New York State Canal Corporation.

Grande Mariner was Stranded on Canal System During 2011 Flooding. The M/V Grande Mariner, a 96-passenger cruise ship that was stranded for more than two months because of flooding in 2011, today returned to the Erie Canal for a new season of cruising America's most storied waterway. The ship, and a sister-ship, M/V Niagara Princes, both owned by Blount Small Ship Adventures in Warren, R.I., was among a handful of ships stranded on the New York State Canal system because of destructive high waters in August and September brought on by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

23 Apr 2001

Blount Names Daughter As ACCL Successor

Maritime veteran Captain Luther Blount, the 84-year-old founder of American Canadian Caribbean Line (ACCL), has named his daughter, Nancy Blount, as president of the small ship cruise line. Captain Blount, the founder and president of the line, which is headquartered in Warren, R.I., has retired as president of ACCL. While he will still hold the title of the line’s chairman, Nancy will assume duties as president – making here one of the few women to hold such a post in the cruise industry. “We have had a succession in place for some time,” Captain Blount said. “Over the years, Nancy has been assuming more responsibility in the operations of our cruise line. Prior to her current position, Ms.

05 Mar 2004

Feature: Boats We Love

Every harbor has its share: hardworking boats that stand-out for some provacative reason. It's probably not for their beauty. Form follows function in most maritime architecture, and maybe there's a beauty in how functional these boats are. But such beauty resides in the mind more than the eye. And yet they're still head-turners. Every harbor has its share. In New York, three come to mind - aphabetically, Odin, Shelby Rose, and Twintube. You know 'em on sight. The first two are tugs, and sort of look it. As for the third, "I was trying to build something that would do everything," Luther Blount told us. It does. They do. They say you'll see boats that resemble her out west. We've seen similar craft heading up the Rhine in Europe. But on New York harbor, Odin looks unique.

05 Apr 2004

Anyone Want to Restore a Tugboat?

You'd think it would be easy to start a tugboat museum. First, get an old tugboat. Clean-up some rust with a pad of coarse steel wool, slap-on a coat of paint, and presto, you're ready to sit in the booth and sell tickets. Everyone would applaud your efforts because, first, everyone loves tugboats and all they represent - solid construction and earnest purpose, hard work and benevolent contributions to civilization. And second, because old tugboats, all spiffied-up, are handsome sights, an alluring environmental decoration wherever they're found. And third, because the design of tugboats, like most of society's tools, has undergone great change, and the old ones are dying-off fast. You'd think everyone would support your labors at preserving a noble cultural heritage.

27 Dec 2000

Blount-Barker Shipbuilding Formed

Blount-Barker Shipbuilding Corporation was recently formed and James A. Barker has been named the President and CEO. Blount-Barker, based in Warren, R.I., specializes in the design and shipbuilding of tugboats, cruise ships, high-speed ferries and dinner and passenger vessels. The new company takes over the activities of the Blount Marine and Blount Industries entities, and operates as a separate corporation. As part of the new venture, Mr. Barker assumes management of Blount's shipyard and personnel, with the option to purchase the operations should they be sold in the future. "Jim Barker brings complementary experience that will greatly enhance the capabilities of the new Blount-Barker venture," said Luther H. Blount, founder of Blount Marine and Blount Industries.

24 Jan 2001

Blount-Barker Shipbuilding Formed, Barker Named CEO

Blount-Barker Shipbuilding Corp. was recently formed, and James A. Barker has been named the President and CEO of this new venture. Blount-Barker, based in Warren, R.I., specializes in the design and shipbuilding of tugboats, cruise ships, high speed ferries and dinner and passenger vessels. The new company takes over the activities of the Blount Marine and Blount Industries entities, and operates as a separate corporation. As part of the new venture, Barker assumes management of Blount's shipyard and personnel, with the option to purchase the operations should they be sold in the future. "Jim Barker brings complementary experience that will greatly enhance the capabilities of the new Blount-Barker venture," said Luther H. Blount, founder of Blount Marine and Blount Industries.

14 Mar 2001

Blount Retires From ACCL; Names Daughter As Successor

Maritime veteran Captain Luther Blount has done it again in terms of firsts in the maritime industry - the 84-year-old founder of American Canadian Caribbean Line (ACCL) has named his daughter, Nancy Blount as president of the small ship cruise line. Captain Blount, the founder and president of the line, which is headquartered in Warren, R.I., has retired as president of ACCL. While he will still hold the title of the line's chairman, Nancy will assume duties as president - making here one of the few women to hold such a post in the cruise industry. "We have had a succession in place for some time," Captain Blount said. "Over the years, Nancy has been assuming more responsibility in the operations of our cruise line. Prior to her current position, Ms.

22 Oct 2004

Senesco Marine Signs Contract For 140,000-Barrel DH ATB

In a move that will change Senesco Marine’s focus and provide continuous work for the next three years, officials at the shipyard announced they have signed a contract with New Jersey based U.S. Shipping, LLC (USSHIPLLC), the largest American Flagged petroleum/chemical carrier in the United States, to build a 140,0000-barrel double-hulled chemical AT/B with tug that can double as a 150,000-barrel double-hulled petroleum AT/B. U.S. Shipping has options for three more 150,000-barrel double-hulled petroleum AT/B’s with Senesco Marine.

22 Oct 2004

Senesco Marine Signs Contract For 140,000-Barrel DH ATB

In a move that will change Senesco Marine’s focus and provide continuous work for the next three years, officials at the shipyard announced they have signed a contract with New Jersey based U.S. Shipping, LLC (USSHIPLLC), the largest American Flagged petroleum/chemical carrier in the United States, to build a 140,0000-barrel double-hulled chemical AT/B with tug that can double as a 150,000-barrel double-hulled petroleum AT/B. U.S. Shipping has options for three more 150,000-barrel double-hulled petroleum AT/B’s with Senesco Marine.

15 Nov 2006

Blount's Cruise Ship Gift is Completed

Late shipbuilder and philanthropist Luther Blount offered to donate a cruise ship from his American Canadian Caribbean Line to benefit Roger Williams University, Rhode Island College and Boston’s Wentworth Institute of Technology. Now that the 175-foot M/V Niagara Price has completed its last cruise, its ownership has officially been transferred. On Nov. 1, the three universities took possession of the Niagara Prince, valued at $6.5 million, which will remain docked at Promet Marine Services in Providence until it is sold. The colleges are to split the proceeds; broker Marcon International of Coupeville, Wash., is working to sell the ship on their behalf. Source: Providence Business Journal

21 Apr 2006

Blount Donates Cruise Ship to Three Colleges

According to reports, three colleges will share a donation from philanthropist and shipbuilder Luther Blount -- a 175-ft. cruise ship. Blount announced he will give the ship, called the Niagara Prince, to Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University and Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston when it retires in the fall. Blount graduated from Wentworth in 1937 with a degree in machine construction and tool design. He received honorary doctorates from Rhode Island College and Roger Williams University. The Niagara Prince was built in Warren in 1994. It has a retractable pilothouse that allows it to pass through shallow waters and low-lying bridges. It can carry up to 90 passengers and crew.

31 Aug 1999

American Builder Makes Good in Cruise Industry

The U.S. shipbuilding industry has not been too successful in the cruise market, but one American builder has found a comfortable niche in the trade, not only building ships, but marketing and operating them as well. The "ships" are relatively small but they are well known in the U.S. and Canadian tourism markets and carry a high number of repeat passengers. Captain Luther H. Blount, 82, considered the father of adventure cruising, is also the founder of American Canadian Caribbean Line (ACCL), a cruise line that probably enjoys the highest repeat passenger rate in the entire cruise industry. Blount established Blount Industries shipyard in 1949 after building a small catamaran out of old oil drums for the local oyster trade.

07 Sep 2005

Tanks for the Memories

How many things that we thought were forever, that were around since the beginning, have vanished absolutely from view? If you're twenty or over, you may recall the typewriter, and large offices packed with clattering Underwoods. Audiocassettes. The beercan opener ("churchkey"). The Automat cafeteria. The steam tugboat. Depending on how far back you go, you once knew any one of these - all, if you're at the height of middle-age. But which was the last one you saw? Remember its name, and the day you saw it? Did you know it would be the last time? When did it first strike you that it's been ages since you saw one? Do you ever wish you could see one again? Don't hold your breath. There are still steam tugs around, but you won't find them shipdocking.