Nigel Gee And Associates News

BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, celebrates 25 years of innovative vessel design this year. Established as Nigel Gee and Associates Ltd in June 1986, by Nigel Gee and John Bonafoux, the company is recognized as one of the world’s leading naval architecture and marine design consultancies. The company has designed numerous high speed passenger catamaran ferries, including the world’s fastest passenger ferry and expanding into the yacht, naval and offshore oil and gas sectors.

On August 8, Derecktor Shipyards launched the 281-ft motor yacht Cakewalk, the largest yacht (by volume) ever built in the U.S. The six deck, 2,998 gross ton vessel floated off Derecktor’s new 4000 ton dry-dock into the waters of Bridgeport harbor, after several years and many thousands of skilled labor hours. Cakewalk was designed by Tim Heywood Designs with Naval Architecture by Azure Naval Architecture. Interior design was by Dalton Designs, Inc. Literally dozens of subcontractors from engineering firms to security specialists participated in the project.

Derecktor Shipyards was given the notice of intent to award by the State of Alaska the contract for the construction of the first two passenger/vehicle high-speed ferries for its Marine Highway System. The NGA design presented by Derecktor competed in a bid race that lasted several months and ended with the notice of intent to award going to Derecktor Shipyards. This project, funded by the Federal Government, allows the State of Alaska to link Sitka to Juneau with fast modern boats, capable of a comfortable one-day round trip. The Alaska Marine Highway System has been operating year-round since 1963, with regularly scheduled passenger and vehicle service to 32 communities in Alaska. It carries over 300,000 passengers every year.

Derecktor Shipyards won the contract for the construction of the first two passenger /vehicle high-speed ferries for the State of Alaska's Marine Highway System. The NGA design presented by Derecktor competed in a bid race that lasted several months and ended with the notice of intent to award going to Derecktor Shipyards. This project, funded by the Federal Government, allows the State of Alaska to link Sitka to Juneau with fast modern boats, capable of a one-day round trip. The Alaska Marine Highway System has been operating year-round since 1963, with regularly scheduled passenger and vehicle service to 32 communities in Alaska. It carries more than 300,000 passengers every year. The new boats are designed by Nigel Gee and Associates (NGA) Ltd.

Derecktor Shipyards has been granted a contract by Lighthouse Landings to construct a 115 ft. (35 m) aluminum high-speed catamaran ferry to be built at the yard's Mamaroneck, N.Y. facility. The catamaran holds the distinction of being the premiere vessel in a fleet of four that will be built for a new passenger service scheduled to begin in Spring/Summer 2001 between Stamford, Conn. and New York City. The vessels' operator, Lighthouse Landings, through its operating subsidiary, New York Fast Ferries Services, Inc. (NYFF) currently provides fast commuter service between Highlands, N.J. and New York City. The new vessels will be built to a design in accordance with Nigel Gee and Associates (NGA) of Southampton, England.

Derecktor Shipyards has been granted a contract by Lighthouse Landings to construct a 115 ft. (35 m) aluminum high-speed catamaran ferry to be built at the yard's Mamaroneck, N.Y. facility. The catamaran holds the distinction of being the premiere vessel in a fleet of four that will be built for a new passenger service scheduled to begin in Spring/Summer 2001 between Stamford, Conn. and New York City. The vessels' operator, Lighthouse Landings, through its operating subsidiary, New York Fast Ferries Services, Inc. (NYFF) currently provides fast commuter service between Highlands, N.J. and New York City. The new vessels will be built to a design in accordance with Nigel Gee and Associates (NGA) of Southampton, England.

Swelling U.S. interest in fostering the development of coastwise shipping may be set against the backcloth of an anticipated 55 percent growth in demand for domestic freight transport over the period 2000-2010. Aside from its breathtaking scale, one of the most remarkable aspects of the U.S. projection is its similarity to the forecast, 50-percent increase in European road freight volume within the same timeframe. U.K.-based technical consultancy BMT Nigel Gee and Associates, no stranger to the North American market, has prepared a high-speed RoRo freight and passenger carrier design for SeaBridge, a new company founded by Mediterranean shipping and North American trucking interests. While offering a solution to U.S.

The North American high speed ferry market has been slow to develop compared with other areas such as Australia, Europe and the Far East. However, recent developments show the U.S. market is gathering momentum - not only in respect of the number of orders, but also with regard to the speed and sophistication of the ferry designs. This trend was emphasized when, in September 1997, one of the world's largest high speed ferry operators, Buquebus, placed a contract with Derecktor Shipyards in Mamaroneck, N.Y. for a high specification, 300 passenger ferry with a maximum speed of more than 50 knots. The specification for the ferry required a maximum contract speed of over 50 knots and a high level of seakeeping and passenger comfort.

Derecktor Shipyards has launched a new high-speed 149.6 ft. catamaran passenger ferry for the Argentinean Company, Buquebus. Capable of operating speeds in excess of 52 knots, when fully loaded, this new vessel becomes the fastest passenger ferry of its class in the world. Derecktor engineers work with the ferry operator, helping evaluate which vessel design best suits its application, based on passenger capacity, speed, length of route, prevailing sea conditions and operating cost. Several arrangement and propulsion options allow maximum customization of the vessel for its intended use. Designed by Nigel Gee and Associates and styled by Pininfarina, this catamaran has an interior by Julio Cesar Ortega.

Derecktor Shipyards is putting the finishing touches on a 134.5 ft. high-speed catamaran for the Woods Hole Steamship Authority at the yard's facility in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Delivery is slated for May of 2000. The other bidders for the contract included Dakota Creek Shipyards, Halter Marine and Pequot River Works. The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority, the oldest of its kind in the U.S., provides the only year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Service is provided from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven, and Hyannis to Nantucket. Seasonal service is also provided from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard.

Paul Derecktor, Alaska Governor Tony Knowles, State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Perkins and several Alaska State Officials were in attendance last week at the State Capitol in Juno, for the signature of the contract that entrusts Derecktor Shipyards with the construction of two new high-speed ferries for the Alaska Marine Highway System. This contract will be the first time a U.S. yard builds passenger-vehicle high-speed ferries. Until now the domain of overseas shipbuilders, the passenger-vehicle high-speed ferries have proven their worth in many countries around the world. The Jones Act requires that these boats servicing U.S. waters be built in the US.

Nigel Gee and Associates Ltd., has been acquired by British Maritime Technology Ltd (BMT). With Nigel Gee’s mix of military, commercial and yacht design expertise, this acquisition will enhance the portfolio of services BMT offers to clients. Roger Swann, Chief Executive of BMT, said: ‘I believe this acquisition will strengthen our capability in both the high speed shipping and defence sector. Nigel Gee and Associates Ltd is an extremely innovative design company and I am confident it will make a significant contribution to BMT.’ Nigel Gee will remain as Managing Director and John Bonafoux as Technical Director. Roger Swann and Peter French, BMT Operations Director (Europe & The Far East), have joined the Board as a director and Chairman respectively.