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Alan C Mcclure Associates News

17 Nov 2014

New Options for Aerodynamic Analysis of Offshore Structures

Air flow around crane truss

Naval architecture and engineering firm Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) has recently completed a wind flow analysis on an offshore structure using its Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package. Until recently, no alternatives existed to determine the effect of aerodynamics and its associated forces on offshore structures other than wind tunnel tests, ACMA said. And, while wind tunnels answer part of the question, they are limited in the level of detail they provide.

27 Oct 2014

Barczak Joins Alan C. McClure Associates

Nicholas Barczak

Naval architecture and engineering firm Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) announced today that Registered Professional Engineer Nicholas Barczak has joined the ACMA team as a naval architect. Nick received his Masters of Engineering in Naval Architecture and Small Craft Design in 2008 from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. He also attended Michigan Technological University where he studied Mechanical Engineering. Prior to joining ACMA, Nick worked as a Naval Architect with Art Anderson Associates and Elliott Bay Design Group.

01 Aug 2013

Alan C. McClure Launches New Website

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), one of the industry’s premier naval architecture and engineering firms, has announced  that the company has launched its new corporate website located at www.acma-inc.com. The new site updates the various services offered by ACMA, including Engineering & Design, Project Management, Surveys & Inspections, and Legal, Arbitration & Negotiations. The site also highlights the leading-edge software the company utilizes and showcases a number of successful projects ACMA has managed over the past four decades.

05 Jun 2013

ACMA President Scott McClure Elected a Fellow of SNAME

SNAME President Peter Noble presents ACMA President Scott McClure with his SNAME Fellow’s Certificate

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), a naval architecture and engineering firm, announced that ACMA President Scott McClure was presented with his Certificate as a Fellow by the council of SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers) during a function held in connection with the 2013 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas. Noble went on to note that Scott McClure has been a respected member of this community for many years, following in the footsteps of his father, the late Alan C. McClure, who was elected a Fellow of SNAME in 1987.

11 Jan 2012

Alan C. McClure Expands Analysis Capabilities

Alan C. McClure Expands Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis Capabilities. Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) has announced that the company has recently expanded its Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis capabilities with a 50% increase to computational power, expanding their High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster to 48 processor cores, backed by 92GB of memory. This expanded capacity allows the company to handle larger, more complex models. According to ACMA Vice President Darrel Harvey…

30 Mar 2011

ACMA and Iceberg Project Services, Inc. Form Professional Alliance

HOUSTON, Texas – March 28, 2011: Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), one of the industry’s premier naval architecture and engineering firms, announced today that it has formed a professional alliance with Iceberg Project Services (IPS) (www.icebergps.com). When supplemental support is required, ACMA will provide engineering services to IPS and IPS will provide ACMA project management assistance. ACMA’s Vice President Darrel Harvey sees this new alliance of complementary services as a win/win situation for both companies.

19 Aug 2010

Alan C. McClure Associates Relocates Corporate Office

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), a naval architecture and engineering firms, recently completed relocating its corporate office to 2929 Briarpark, Suite 220, Houston, Texas 77042. The company’s new headquarters occupies 6000+ square feet and includes an expanded drafting area as well as a room dedicated to housing the company’s extensive computer systems that provide specialized analysis in-house and that can be accessed from remote locations. “Although we moved less than a mile from our original location that served the company for 35 years, our new location has given us the opportunity to reorganize our offices to better fit the growth we’ve experienced over the past decade,” said ACMA Vice President Darrel Harvey.

29 Sep 2009

McClure Secures Port Aransas Ferry Assignment

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), a naval architecture and engineering firm, recently announced that the company has been selected to develop shipyard construction-level detail drawings for the next generation of TxDOT ferries. ACMA will also be responsible for ABS and USCG compliance, as well as weight monitoring for assembly lifts during the construction period. The 160-ft double-ended, geared diesel-powered automobile and passenger ferries will have the ability to carry approximately 28 vehicles and 150 passengers. They will join the fleet operated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that offers free ferry service between Port Aransas on Mustang Island, and Harbor Island, a continuation of Texas State Route 361.

26 Jun 2009

ACMA Monitors First Dry Dock of TxDOT Ferry

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), a naval architecture and engineering firm, announced that the first dry dock for a ferry being built for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been completed at Conrad Deepwater in Amelia, Louisiana. ACMA and Schuller & Allen provided engineering and design for the new 264-ft vessel, and ACMA is now providing owner’s representation during the construction period until vessel delivery. ACMA Vice President Darrel Harvey said “The ferry’s first dry dock went very smoothly.

01 May 2009

ACMA Expands Analysis Capabilities

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), a naval architecture and engineering firm, announced that the company has recently expanded its analysis capabilities by acquiring a license for STAR CCM+, the flagship CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) package from CD Adapco. This new analysis capability will enable ACMA to determine the effect of viscous flows and non-linear waves on vessel hulls and in internal tanks. ACMA has also purchased a high-performance computing cluster, equivalent to 16 standard desktops to run the new program and accelerated its learning curve by investing heavily in training and running test simulations of past projects. Many of the analyses that ACMA can now perform with CFD were previously analyzed using models tested in a Tow Tank.

07 Apr 2008

GE to Supply for Conrad

GE Marine announced it will provide Conrad Industries, Inc., , with two 8 cylinder V228 medium-speed diesel engines through NREC Power Systems, a GE authorized dealer. The engines will power a passenger/vehicle ferry designed by Alan C. McClure Associates, Inc. and Schuller & Allan LLC, both of . The ferry is being built by Conrad Industries for the Texas Department of Transportation, Austin. The 264 x 66 x 15-ft. ferry will carry up to 500 passengers and 70 vehicles, and will operate out of the terminal in .

19 Aug 2003

Seven Shipbuilding R&D Projects get Greenlight

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program Advanced Shipbuilding Enterprise (NSRP ASE) selected seven new research projects as part of the Navy/Industry co-funded portfolio. The seven new projects, valued at approximately $20 million including industry cost share, were in response to the latest NSRP ASE solicitation released in February and continue the successful implementation of the Program’s Strategic Investment Plan. Common Parts Catalog (CPC) Implementation: This project will provide full scale testing…

03 Sep 2003

News: SWATH Design Boasts Flexibility, Efficiency

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) has completed the design development of a new SWATH (Small Waterplane Area, Twin Hull) vessel that the designer says lends itself to a variety of operation options. The proposed vessel will be 92 ft. long with a 46.6-ft. beam and a displacement of 240 LT. The new vessel's design is based on a variation of the technology used by ACMA's in the development of the 120-ft. Stillwater River, a SWATH crewboat built for Trico Marine Operators, Inc., that has been successfully operating for Petrobras offshore Brazil for the past five years. The operational speed of ACMA's new SWATH has been reduced from more than 28 knots to 20 - 25 knots to accommodate a variety of conventional propulsion system combinations (diesel/reduction-gear w/CP or FP wheels).

29 Jan 2004

ACMA Completes Strength Analysis for Temporary Hull Repair

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), one of the industry’s premier naval architecture and engineering firms, recently completed strength analysis of the tank bottom plating of an FPSO for a large oil company. ACMA’s analysis focused primarily on the effectiveness of repairing corroded shell plating with Intelligent Engineering’s Sandwich Panel System (SPS). “Utilizing our advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) capabilities, we examined the vessel hull to evaluate repair alternatives to the corroded shell plating,” noted principal structural engineer Peter Marucci. “We loaded the model with hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures that the…

10 Feb 2004

Feature: Temporary Hull Repair on FPSO Stands the Test

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) recently completed strength analysis of the tank bottom plating of an FPSO for a large oil company. ACMA's analysis focused primarily on the effectiveness of repairing corroded shell plating with Intelligent Engineering's Sandwich Panel System (SPS). "Utilizing our advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) capabilities, we examined the vessel hull to evaluate repair alternatives to the corroded shell plating," said principal structural engineer Peter Marucci. "We loaded the model with hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures that the hull would experience from still-water and wave-induced bending moments." Because it's vital to examine all material and environmental variables to predict real-time performance…

16 Apr 2004

Crew Boat Delivered to Maryland Environmental

SeaArk Marine and Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) teamed to design, build and deliver a customized crew boat to Maryland Environmental Services. The 48-ft. Dauntless Class all-welded aluminum crew boat is a deep-vee hull designed to transport officials and dignitaries to view the progress being made in reclaiming wetlands for the Poplar Island Project on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the Chesapeake Bay. ACMA’s initial efforts were focused on defining the requirements and general overall characteristics that would be required of the vessel in its operating environment. ACMA then developed the specifications for bid and evaluated the responses to the bid packages.

10 May 2004

Crew Boat Delivered to MES

SeaArk Marine and Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) teamed to design, build and deliver a customized crew boat to Maryland Environmental Services (MES). The 48-ft. Dauntless Class all-welded aluminum crew boat is a deep-vee hull designed to transport officials and dignitaries to view the progress being made in reclaiming wetlands for the Poplar Island Project on Maryland's Eastern Shore in the Chesapeake Bay. ACMA's initial efforts were focused on defining the requirements and general overall characteristics that would be required of the vessel in its operating environment. ACMA then developed the specifications for bid and evaluated the responses to the bid packages. Harvey, "Throughout the project, SeaArk Marine was exceptionally detail-oriented and very owner-responsive.

21 Sep 2004

New Debis Clearing Vessel Design

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) completed its contract from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) to design and supervise the construction of a 32-ft. barge that will remove debris from the Blanco and Guadalupe rivers and their tributaries as they flow through south and southeast Texas. After establishing the capabilities that would be required to operate in this specialized environment, ACMA developed the conceptual design, recommended equipment and propulsion systems, developed bid specifications, distributed specifications to shipyards for bids, evaluated bid packages, oversaw construction and provided owner’s representation throughout the project.

27 Oct 2004

ACMA Signs Cooperative Agreement with sendit, llc

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) entered into a cooperative agreement with sendit, llc that will allow ACMA to make the innovative technology of topside float-over installation available to its clientele worldwide. “The application of the float-over method works for platforms with a variety of substructure designs, including catenary anchor leg mooring, tension leg and seabed support,” said ACMA President Scott McClure. “One of the primary advantages we see in this technology - installation can be performed with tugs, and the topside is transported and installed as a single unit. Tor Persson, president of sendit, llc, noted, “Buoyancy…

10 Nov 2004

ACMA, VT Halter Awarded NOAA Contract

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA) said that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded ACMA and VT Halter Marine Phase II of a three-part contract that calls for the design, development and construction of a new Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) coastal mapping vessel (CMV). Initially, NOAA awarded two teams the chance to participate in the first phase of the project. ACMA and VT Halter Marine were one of the two teams that qualified for Phase I, a stage that lasted four months and consisted of Feasibility Analysis and Preliminary Design contracts.

11 Apr 2005

ACMA Completes Ship Load-Out Assignments

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), a naval architecture and engineering firm, recently concluded load-out projects for both ScanTrans and National Oilwell. “In the case of ScanTrans, we performed ship motion and acceleration calculations to determine how much force the cargo would exert and, therefore, what tie-down measures would be required,” said ACMA President Scott McClure. On National Oilwell’s behalf, McClure noted that ACMA reviewed all of the load-out logistics for the benefit of the equipment provider.

24 Sep 2002

UFRJ Wins International Student Offshore Design Competition

The entry was one of eight projects submitted by students from universities around the world. The UFRJ team was honored with a cash prize of $1,500 and the opportunity to present the “Maracanã” floating production/storage and offloading unit (FPSO) to industry at the SNAME Annual Meeting in Boston on Sept. 25-28. “We created this competition to promote the challenging and exciting opportunities in the offshore industry,” said John Filson, Design Competition Coordinator. “Plus it offered the chance to increase awareness of good engineering talent as well as develop closer relationships with industry professionals and academia.” Filson says this first year was successful in terms of the participation level and quality of entries.

07 Aug 2003

New SWATH Design Boasts Flexibility, Efficiency

Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), a leading naval architecture and engineering firm, recently completed the design development of a new SWATH (Small Waterplane Area, Twin Hull) vessel that lends itself to a variety of operations options. The proposed vessel will be 92 feet in length, with a beam of 46 feet - 8 inches and displacement of 240 LT. The new vessel's design is based on a variation of the technology used by ACMA's in the development of the 120-foot STILLWATER RIVER, a SWATH crewboat built for Trico Marine Operators, Inc., that has been successfully operating for Petrobras offshore Brazil for the past five years. The operational…