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Incat Designs News

21 Sep 2020

Interview: Mike Fitzpatrick, Robert Allan Ltd.

Mike Fitzpatrick is president and CEO of Robert Allan Ltd. (Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Robert Allan Ltd. is a consulting naval architectural firm, established in Vancouver, Canada in 1930. Mike Fitzpatrick has been a driving force in the company’s growth since joining the firm in 2003. As a key member of the initial employee ownership group, he was named president and CEO in 2015, responsible for corporate direction, business development, management of senior project managers, and project priorities, schedules and profitability. Fitzpatrick is a 1995 graduate of the University of New South Wales in Australia, with a Bachelor of Engineering in naval architecture.

19 Feb 2019

Shipbuilding: Chris Allard, CEO, Metal Shark

Chris Allard, CEO, Metal Shark. Photo: Metal Shark

Metal Shark has arguably been one of the more active and successful boat builders in the U.S. over the last 12 to 24 months, boasting a strong order book and expanding facilities and portfolio. In particular, the company has been able to capitalize on the burgeoning ferry market, today accounting for about a quarter of its business, as Chris Allard, CEO, explains.When you look at the ferry business today in relation to Metal Shark’s business, what do you see?Metal Shark has delivered…

16 Aug 2018

Shipbuilding: “We had shipyard for dinner …”

Brothers and co-presidents Peter Duclos (left) and John Duclos flank sister Carol Hegarty, CFO. Photo: Greg Trauthwein

The Duclos family is iconic in boatbuilding circles, as the Somerset, Mass.-based Gladding-Hearn, Duclos Corporation, has built a strong heritage in the pilot boat and fast ferry sectors, and in total more than 425 vessels have been delivered since it was founded in 1955. Today a trio of second-generation siblings run the yard, brothers and co-presidents John and Peter Duclos with sister Carol Hegarty serving as CFO. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News visited the yard recently…

11 Sep 2017

Incat Designs Founder Philip Hercus Passed Away

Philip Hercus (Photo: Incat Crowther)

Incat Designs founder Philip Hercus, one of the forefathers of Incat Crowther and Australia’s marine design industry, has passed away. Hercus’ contribution to the industry was immense. In the 1980s, he pioneered the introduction of aluminum catamaran passenger vessels in tourist areas such as the Great Barrier Reef before developing the Wave Piercing Catamaran. In 1990, one of these vessels won the Hales Trophy for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean for a commercial vessel. Phil was awarded the Order of Australia in 1995 for his services to the industry.

06 Aug 2015

Incat Designs Dive Vessel for Down Under Cruise & Dive

Incat Crowther has entered into a contract to design a 33m Catamaran Dive Vessel for Down Under Cruise & Dive of Cairns, Australia. Construction of the vessel is well underway at Marine Engineering Consultants on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Incat Crowther were approached by Down Under Cruise & Dive to create a design that offered the ultimate passenger experience, with the class and style of a motor yacht, yet retained the rugged and efficient properties of an aluminium commercial vessel. Incat Crowther responded to the brief with an attractive, spacious and comfortable vessel that maximizes the passengers’ experience on the reef. Interior spaces are large and well glazed, and outdoor spaces are fit out with comfortable lounges and well protected from the sun.

17 Dec 2008

5th Incat for New York Water Taxi

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has delivered its fifth high-speed water taxi, Gene Flatow, to New York City-based New York Water Taxi. Like the four sisters before her, the bright yellow, all-aluminum catamaran, designed by Incat Crowther, measures 72 ft long and 27.3 ft abeam, and draws 5 ft. The water taxi is USCG-certified to carry 149 passengers but limited to only 99 passengers when operating at the City’s “water taxi” designated docks. The vessel is powered by twin Cummins QSK 19-M diesel engines, each rated at 800 Bhp at 2100 rpm.

08 Oct 2001

Now the Carousel Ship

Technical proposals for the shipment of natural gas under compression rather than in the refrigerated, liquefied state have surfaced from time to time over the years, but have received a lukewarm response from the marine industry. The considerable cost of the shipboard containment methodology has been a major stumbling block. Now, a Canadian engineering contractor has come up with an altogether more economic solution to the cargo carrying needs of compressed natural gas (CNG), and pitched at relatively short-distance sea transport applications. Instead of the prohibitively expensive pressure bottles that have earlier been central to CNG transport concepts…

14 Jan 2004

Feature: Passenger Vessels : What's in Store in 2004?

The passenger vessel market is a classic mature marine market. Segments of it are doing well, while other parts have literally died. For example, the overnight segment of the market saw one substantial vessel delivered in 2003 with none on the horizon for 2004. The Empress of the North, a 360-ft. sternwheeler was put into service in September working the West Coast-Alaska route. Now that ice is a problem in Alaska, the vessel is working the Columbia River system in the Northwest U.S. The vessel was the largest vessel ever built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash. and is owned by American West Steamboat Company, Portland, Ore. Developing overnight service is the most difficult part of the passenger vessel industry to get established.

30 Mar 2004

Two Incat Ferries Launched

Incat Designs - Sydney announced the launches of two new ferries. The 43m Seastreak Highlands was launched at Gladding Hearn's Massachusetts (USA) yard in late February. This was followed by the launch of 58m RoPax Ferry MiCAT (pictured) by Cairns boatbuilder NQEA Australia one week later. Seastreak Highlands is the 165th Incat Designs - Sydney vessel to be constructed, and will join sister ships Seastreak New Jersey, Seastreak Wall Street and Seastreak New York on the run from Downtown New York to Atlantic Highlands.

15 Apr 2004

Gladding-Hearn Starts Construction of New Incat

Bay State Cruise Company ordered a 149 passenger high-speed ferry from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, for service between Boston and Provincetown, Massachusetts. The vessel has a June delivery date. The new vessel replaces Friendship IV, built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 1994, and under charter to Bay State for its Provincetown run in the summer and service in the British Virgin Islands in the winter. According to shipyard officials, the vessel will continue service in south Florida and the islands.

10 May 2004

Two Incat Ferries Launched

Incat Designs has launched two new ferries. The 43m Seastreak Highlands was launched at Gladding Hearn's Massachusetts (USA) yard in late February. This was followed by the launch of 58m RoPax Ferry MiCAT (pictured) by Cairns boatbuilder NQEA Australia one week later. Seastreak Highlands is the 165th Incat Designs - Sydney vessel to be constructed, and will join sister ships Seastreak New Jersey, Seastreak Wall Street and Seastreak New York on the run from Downtown New York to Atlantic Highlands. These four new vessels are complemented by two other Incat Designs ferries, Seastreak Manhattan and Seastreak Liberty, operating from downtown to South Amboy.

10 May 2004

Gladding-Hearn Starts New Ferry

Bay State Cruise Company ordered a 149-passenger high-speed ferry from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, for service between Boston and Provincetown, Mass. The vessel has a June delivery date. The new vessel replaces Friendship IV, built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 1994, and under charter to Bay State for its Provincetown run in the summer and service in the British Virgin Islands in the winter. According to shipyard officials, the vessel will continue service in south Florida and the islands. The new, all-aluminum ferry, designed by Incat Designs is 98 ft. (29.8 m) long, 29.5 ft. (9.1 m) at the beam, and draws 6 ft. (1.8 m). It will be powered by a pair of Cummins KTA38M2 diesel engines, each delivering 1,350 bhp at 1,950 rpm.

12 May 2004

News: Gladding-Hearn Starts Construction of New Incat Vessel

Bay State Cruise Co. ordered a 149-passenger high-speed ferry from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding for service between Boston and Provincetown, Mass., due for delivery in June. The new, all-aluminum ferry, designed by Incat Designs is 98 ft. (29.8 m) long, 29.5 ft. (9.1 m) at the beam, and draws 6 ft. (1.8 m). It will be powered by a pair of Cummins KTA38M2 diesel engines, each delivering 1,350 bhp at 1,950 rpm. The engines will turn twin Brutons five-blade nickel-aluminum-bronze propellers via ZF2550 reverse-reduction gearboxes. The ferry's top speed is expected to reach 30 knots. The new catamaran's more modern and rounded bows are Incat's latest development in hull design.

05 Aug 2004

New York Water Taxi Orders Two

New York Water Taxi, whose bright yellow water taxis shuttle passengers between locations on the New York Harbor, is adding two new vessels to its six-boat fleet. Next spring, the water taxi service will take delivery of two 72-foot catamarans, under construction at Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. The new vessels are classic Incat Designs-designed ferries -- offering simplicity and efficiency, reliability, low sound level, and low wake. The water taxis are designed to reach the same 26-knot speed and with the same crew size as New York Water Taxi’s current vessels…

05 Aug 2004

Provincetown III Launched

Incat Designs - Sydney is pleased to announce the delivery of Provincetown III. The 30m 149 passenger catamaran was launched at Gladding Hearn Shipbuilders' Shipyard in time to enter service for the July 4 long weekend. The vessel is being operated by Bay State Cruise Company (BSC) of Boston MA on the 55 nautical mile run between Boston and Provincetown, replacing Friendship IV. The new vessel has a service speed of 30 knots while carrying 149 passengers. The vessel is powered by 2 x Cummins KTA 38-M2 diesel engines providing 1350HP @ 1950rpm.

24 Jan 2002

From Small Commercial Shipyard to Premier

Local and state dignitaries convened on the Monmouth County waterfront to take part in the christening of the Gladding-Hearn built M/V Seastreak New Jersey, a 141-ft. (42.9-m), 400 passenger high speed catamaran which will provide daily commuter service from Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands, N.J., to Pier 11 (Wall Street) and East 34th Street in Manhattan. According to Geoffrey Ede of SeaStreak America, Inc., Seastreak New Jersey and its sister ship Seastreak New York are the fastest diesel powered ferries in the New York Harbor today with service speeds of approximately 45 mph. Our outstanding commuter service into New York will…

24 Jan 2002

Ferries Lead the Way

There are several quick conclusions you can draw about passenger boat construction in the new millennium. First it is a smaller market than 10 years ago with far fewer boats being built today than a decade ago. Secondly almost all of these vessels are built on the east or west coast. There are virtually no passenger boats being built in the south. Third, the number one vessel type being built is the ferryboat and more specifically the all-passenger ferry that shuttles people at 25 knots or better. In the years between 1987 and 1993 shipyards all over the country were building 600-passenger excursion-dinner boats in great numbers as sightseeing and dining vessels on America’s great rivers, lakes and bays became increasingly popular.

08 Dec 2000

Bollinger Signs Pact With Incat For High Speed Vessel

Bollinger Shipyards and Incat Australia have come to an agreement to market and build high speed vessels to Incat designs in the U.S. Known for its K Class aluminum catamarans, Incat has to date built more than 40 percent of the worldwide fleet of high-speed passenger ferries more than 230 ft. (70 m). The two companies have been working together on a proposal to an unnamed owner for a unique wave-piercing vessel that can transport 500 passengers and various vehicles at speeds of more than 40 knots. The design resembles that of the Incat Tasmania, which includes two slender aluminum hulls connected by a bridging section with a center bow structure at the forward end. One 282 ft.

12 Dec 2000

Bollinger Signs Deal With Incat

In a move which signals the long-awaited fast craft boom in the United States is about to begin, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., and INCAT AUSTRALIA Pty. Ltd. signed an agreement for Bollinger to market and build high speed craft to INCAT designs in the United States. The deal is significant in that earlier this year chief INCAT rival Austal Ships struck a deal with Mobile, Ala.-based Bender Shipbuilding to build a new shipyard in Mobile for the same purpose. INCAT is privately owned and is the innovator and builder of the world speed record holding Wave Piercing and K Class aluminum catamarans. The 27 year-old company has built over 30, or approximately 40% of the worldwide fleet of high-speed passenger ferries over 230 feet (70M) in length.

11 Dec 2000

Bollinger Signs Deal With Incat

In a move which signals the long-awaited fast craft boom in the United States is about to begin, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., and INCAT AUSTRALIA Pty. Ltd. signed an agreement for Bollinger to market and build high speed craft to INCAT designs in the United States. The deal is significant in that earlier this year chief INCAT rival Austal Ships struck a deal with Mobile, Ala.-based Bender Shipbuilding to build a new shipyard in Mobile for the same purpose. INCAT is privately owned and is the innovator and builder of the world speed record holding Wave Piercing and K Class aluminum catamarans. The 27 year-old company has built over 30, or approximately 40% of the worldwide fleet of high-speed passenger ferries over 230 feet (70M) in length.

22 Dec 2000

Bollinger Signs Deal With Incat to Build Fast Craft

In a move that signals the long-awaited fast craft boom in the United States is about to begin, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., and Incat Australia Pty. Ltd. signed an agreement for Bollinger to market and build high speed craft to Incat designs in the United States. The deal is significant in that earlier this year chief Incat rival Austal Ships struck a deal with Mobile, Ala.-based Bender Shipbuilding to build a new shipyard in Mobile for the same purpose. Incat is privately owned and is the innovator and builder of the world speed record holding Wave Piercing and K Class aluminum catamarans. The 27-year-old company has built more than 30, or approximately 40 percent of the worldwide fleet of high-speed passenger ferries over 230 ft. in length.

24 Jan 2001

Gladding-Hearn Gets Bermuda Ferry Contract

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has begun construction of two new fast ferries for the Governemnt of Bermuda, Ministry of Transport. The first vessel will be delivered in September, followed by a second in early 2002. The Somerset-Mass., Shipyard was chosen from among 12 yards from four countries - Australia, Norway, Denmark and theU.S. - that competed for the project. Designed by Incat Designs, Sidney, Australia, the 250-passenger ferries will be part of a new "seamless" transportation system involving integrated docks for bow loading and electronic tickets that will be compatible with the government's bus system, explained government officials. Each all-aluminum vessel measures 84 ft. (25.72 m) long, 30 ft. (9.2) abeam, and draws 5.3 ft (1.6 m).

05 Feb 2001

High Speed Ferry Set For Block Island

Beginning this summer, passengers traveling from Point Judith to Block Island, R.I. will be able to complete their travel in about half the time it normally takes to perform this voyage - thanks to a 99 ft. (30.1 m), 250-passenger high speed catamaran under construction at Gladding-Hearn. The vessel, which will have a top speed of 33 knots when loaded at a dwt of 18.6 tons, will complete the 12-mile ocean crossing in approximately 22 minutes - according to shipyard officials. Designed for commuter and tourist service by Incat Designs, Sydney, Australia, the all-aluminum vessel will be powered by twin Caterpillar 3412E, 1,100-bhp diesel engines driving Hamilton HM521 water jets through ZF 1950 reduction gears. The vessel boasts Incat's single chine Z-bow shape.