Marine Travelift News

Shipyards across the U.S. are investing in new equipment to increase lift capacity, opening up the door for more projects and improved efficiency.Southern California-based Marine Group Boat Works, which performs a mix of yacht, commercial and government vessel repair work, in 2022 repowered its 665-ton Marine Travelift mobile boat hoist—the largest on the West Coast—with a Tier 4 John Deere engine. And earlier this year it was awarded a MARAD Small Shipyard Grant worth more than…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) on Wednesday announced $20.8 million in grant awards to 27 small shipyards in 20 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program. The funds will help shipyards modernize, increase productivity, and expand local job opportunities while competing in the global marketplace.“Small shipyards strengthen America’s commercial fleet, bolster our economic security, and generate good jobs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We are proud to support these shipyards reinforce their vital role in the U.S.

The recent delivery of a Marine Travelift 820CII (820 metric ton/1,804,000 lbs. capacity) Mobile Boat Hoist to the Stevens Towing Company, Inc. shipyard located on Yonges Island in South Carolina will transform marine services by alleviating overwhelmed dry dock schedules in the region.Founded in the late 1800s as Stevens Brothers with a single boat, Joseph Stanyarne Stevens and William Yates Stevens transported produce and supplies from Edisto Island to Charleston and many points in between.

The Marine Travelift/Shuttlelift/ExacTech, Inc. family of companies announced Kurt Minten has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Marine Travelift. As the longest tenured employee in Marine Travelift history, Minten has many years of experience in all aspects of the business and has held positions in both engineering and sales leading up to this promotion.Minten’s experience with Marine Travelift began even before he was an employee of the company. Early in the company’s history…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grant awards to 24 small shipyards in 19 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program.The funds will help awardees—many of which being family-run businesses—modernize, increase productivity and expand local employment opportunities while competing in the global marketplace, MARAD said.“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy, and small shipyards play a critical role in America’s maritime industry, helping us get the goods we depend on every day,” said U.S.

Great Lakes Shipyard, a division of The Great Lakes Towing Company, has recently been awarded government contracts amounting to more than $1.9 million.The contracts, which could be valued at nearly $2.5 million if all options are exercised, include haul out, maintenance, and repair work of the following vessels: U.S. Coast Guard: Cutter KATMAI BAY; and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Detroit District Floating Plant (Tug DEMOLEN and Crane Barge VELER); and Buffalo District Barge BC6214.Great Lakes Shipyard is a regular provider of maintenance and repair services to the federal government…

United States Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay (WTGB-101), homeported in Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., arrived at Great Lakes Shipyard for a drydock, inspection, maintenance and repair contract.The contract includes hull, propulsion and steering system inspections, as well as steel repairs, hull cleaning and painting. The 140-foot Bay-class icebreaking tug was hauled out on Friday, September 3 using the Shipyard’s new 900-ton Marine Travelift.The USCGC Katmai Bay serves throughout the entire Great Lakes system.

“…We have built our reputation job by job, boat by boat, and tow by tow, and we intend to continue to do so.”The Great Lakes Towing Company (GLT) and the Great Lakes Shipyard are core businesses within The Great Lakes Group of Companies, based in Cleveland, on the Old River, a shipping channel that runs west from where the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie. Company towing operations extend from Buffalo, N.Y. in the east to Duluth, Minn. in the west. Great Lakes Towing owns and operates the largest U.S.-flagged tugboat fleet on the Great Lakes, serving more than 35 ports in all eight U.S.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., recently installed a Marine Travelift HTC 150D Hydraulic Hatch Crane on the Michigan Trader self-unloading barge delivered to VanEnkevort Tug & Barge.The Michigan Trader features an overall length of 740 ft X 78 ft beam X 45 ft depth. Once in service, it will serve the Great Lakes region by hauling bulk commodities including iron ore, stone and more.“It was nice to partner with a local supplier, Marine Travelift, to provide the lifting solutions for the Michigan Trader…

Manitowoc, Wis. boat builder Burger Boat Company announced it has launched a new passenger vessel for Chicago’s First Lady Cruises. The 98-foot steel vessel, Chicago’s Emerald Lady, can serve up to 250 passengers and is designed by Mark Pudlo, Principal, Seacraft Design in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Two dozen small shipyards in the U.S. have received a combined $19.6 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grant Program to help fund upgrades and expansions that often lead to more competitive operations, quality ship construction and improved employee skill.“This $19.6 million federal government investment in the nation’s small shipyards will help maintain the U. S. shipyard infrastructure of our country,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L.

Along the 1,600-mile, ice gray arch of the St Lawrence Seaway, the 2020 Great Lakes commercial shipping season will lurch back to life on March 25 when the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. reopen.The ceremonial opening signals a passage with passable ice and the 114th Great Lakes season for its fleet of 45 venerable lakers. Most of these huge self-loading freight haulers are at least 50 years old, rust free, and fit; American steel sailing on a freshwater sea.To handle Great Lakes cargo…

Marine Travelift has announced it is expanding its operation with the addition of Marine Travelift Mid-Atlantic. Marine Travelift Mid-Atlantic is located in Ashland, Virginia, and now offers boat handling equipment support from New Jersey to South Carolina.“The goal of this expansion is to provide our customers in the Mid-Atlantic area with the best possible access to Marine Travelift equipment locally. This includes genuine OEM parts and high-quality service with factory support,” said Erich Pfeifer, Marine Travelift President & CEO.Craig Lewis, Sales Manager at Marine Travelift Mid-Atlantic, has 16 years’ experience with Marine Travelift machines and will lead the company’s sales team.Kim Edds…

Legislation would close a loophole to strengthen Buy America standards that will support Wisconsin businesses, manufacturers and workers.U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Buy America for Small Shipyard Grants Act to strengthen Buy America requirements for federal Small Shipyard Grant funding to support American businesses, manufacturers and workers. The bill is cosponsored by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA).While Buy American requirements already apply to the Small Shipyard Grant Program…

More than $20 million in grant funding has been awarded to support capital improvement projects at 29 small shipyards in 22 states across the U.S.The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grant Program, supports capital improvements that foster increased efficiency and economic growth.“These grants are an investment in our country’s small shipyards and will help create good jobs for America’s workers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L.

Embracing and spanning the full breadth of Great Lakes geography and business mix, GLG’s Joe Starck has his multi-missioned firm looking to the future – in more ways than one.The Great Lakes Group (GLG) takes its beginnings from its 1899 incorporation by industrial icon John D. Rockefeller, who formed the Great Lakes Towing to satisfy the demands of a Midwest industrial revolution that brought bigger ships to the region. Existing vessels, unable to keep up with demand, were supplemented and replaced by a fleet of as many as 100 tugboats; the first steel tugs in the region. GLG still has a tug that was part of that original operation.

Marine Travelift has recently partnered with RMK Merrill-Stevens for the delivery of a new 100 BFMII (100 metric ton lifting capacity) mobile boat hoist.The custom 100-ton machine will be operational later this summer and will join an older 70 ton Marine Travelift on site, expanding the capacity and versatility of the Miami shipyard as part of their ongoing modernization efforts.RMK Merrill-Stevens is a full-service yacht repair facility performing repair and refit of yachts, commercial craft and government vessels ranging from 30’ to 300’.

Aiming to support shipbuilding modernizations that will increase productivity and allow U.S. shipyards to compete more effectively in global markets, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded $9.8 million to 18 U.S. yards through its Small Shipyard Grant Program. “Small shipyards play a significant role in our country’s maritime sector, which contributes to our economy, security, and infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Great Lakes Shipyard was awarded a drydocking contract by Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line for the M/V Carlee Emily. Maintenance work includes five-year drydocking, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) inspection and surveys as well as miscellaneous routine repairs. The ferry was hauled out using the 770-MT Mobile Marine Travelift on April 10, 2017. Work is expected to be completed later this month, allowing the ferry to return to service as soon as possible. This is the second time that the Carlee Emily was drydocked at Great Lakes Shipyard and the fifth drydocking for Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line.

Great Lakes Shipyard was awarded a contract for drydocking and repairs by Geo Gradel & Co. for Tug JOHN FRANCIS on January 18, 2017. The tugboat was hauled out using the 770-MT Mobile Marine Travelift on January 19, 2017. Geo Gradel & Co. also awarded a contract to the Shipyard for drydocking and repairs for Hopper Barge Mobro 2000 on December 14, 2016. This contract includes significant metal repairs due to due to damages caused during the season. Work for both vessels is expected to be completed March 2017.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a stability letter to America’s newest tall ship for operation on exposed waters, confirming that SSV Oliver Hazard Perry exceeds their most stringent Sailing School Vessel standards for stability. This assures that the vessel is on track to begin offshore ocean voyaging in early 2017 following the successful near-shore sailing achieved this past summer. The first scheduled offshore passage will be south from Rhode Island to Florida, starting in January 2017. The 200-foot, three-masted, full rigged ship is currently dry-docked in North Kingstown, R.I. at J.

Marine Travelift Inc. announced that Newport Shipyard has purchased a customized 200CII mobile boat hoist for its Newport, R.I. facility. When it’s delivered this fall, the machine will join the 70-, 100- and 500-ton Marine Travelift hoists currently in operation. The new 200CII boasts the first top-beam extension on a Marine Travelift 200-ton hoist and has been designed to use piers that were dedicated to a 100-ton machine and to travel into an indoor workspace. According to Eli Dana, Newport Shipyard’s General Manager, the yard was facing two challenges that prompted the 200CII purchase. “We’ve had increased demand from commercial customers, whose vessels are too heavy for the 100-ton hoist and are more difficult to schedule for the 500-ton due to space restrictions,” Dana explained.

On April 25, Great Lakes Shipyard hauled out the U.S. Coast Guard’s 125’ x 52’ Aids to Navigation Barge (12001). Using the Shipyard’s 770-ton Marine Travelift, the yard lifted the 620-ton AToN barge quickly and easily, and placed it on drydocking blocks. Based in Detroit, Mich., the buoy tending crane barge is normally paired with the Ice Breaking Cutter Bristol Bay, and serves as a buoy tender to handle navigation buoys marking shipping lanes of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. The barge will remain in the yard until mid-June under a USCG contract for routine maintenance and repairs.