Andrea Piacentini News

It's a timeless piece of history that is the newest deal going on in the cruise ship industry - the deal between the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. and Atlantic Marine, which calls for the building of two U.S. Coastal flag ships inspired by the former Fall River Line Vessels which ran from 1847 to 1937. It was the age in which water transportation was the only mode of distance travel. Henry Ford and the Wright Brothers had not yet become household names and the horse and carriage reigned as the only means of getting to and fro. Aristocracy held court on ships that sailed the high seas - namely the Fall River Line, which ran from New York to New England. Inspired yet? Executives at Delta Queen were - so much that they decided to model their current project after the famed line.

Derecktor Shipyards delivered its 299 ft. (91 m) high speed catamaran, Flying Cloud, to Woods Hole & Martha's Vineyard Steamship Authority. Completed one week ahead of schedule, the vessel will be used for year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Attaining an excess of 39 knots during sea trials, Flying Cloud demonstrated high stability and ride comfort due to its dynamic ride control system. Its service speed of 36 knots will allow the ferry to cross from Hyannis Port to Nantucket Island in less than one hour - significantly lower than the conventional two hour crossing time. Flying Cloud is powered by Paxman 12VP185 diesel engines driving Kamewa 71SII waterjets.

American West Steamboat Company has begun construction of a second sternwheeler cruise ship, the Empress of the North, scheduled for completion in May 2003. The Empress of the North is being built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Wash., where her sister ship, the sternwheeler Queen of the West, was completed in 1995. Designed in Seattle by naval architects, Guido Perla & Associates, the Empress of the North will be 360 ft. long and accommodate 236 passengers and 84 crew. The ship will feature 112 all-outside suites and staterooms, of which 105 will have private verandahs. The Empress of the North will operate 11-night cruises between Seattle and Juneau, along the famed Inside Passage of Canada and Alaska beginning June to mid-September, 2003.

Jamestown Metal Marine Sales, Inc. has been awarded a contract by Blue Chip Casino, LLC, a subsidiary of Boyd Gaming, to construct a new casino vessel at Blue Chip's Michigan City, Indiana facility. The new vessel, which will replace the present vessel, will be approximately 400 ft. in length with a beam of 200 feet and provide about 75,000 square feet of gaming area on a single deck. In addition to the gaming area there will be another 85,000 square feet of back of house and future gaming areas on other decks. Jamestown was selected by Blue Chip Casino for this high visibility project based on Jamestown's significant experience outfitting casino vessels and managing other turnkey marine construction projects. This will be Jamestown's 26th casino project.

Jamestown Metal Marine Sales, Inc. has successfully delivered the completed Blue Chip 2 casino vessel to Blue Chip Casino, at Blue Chip’s Michigan City, Ind., facility. gaming area on a single deck. back of house and future gaming areas on other decks. constructed for the project. interior finishes, and the gaming facilities. concert with Blue Chip Casino’s local construction management team. unmatched in its unobstructed access having all gaming positions on one level. and parking facility. and the new Blue Chip 2 was motored into position to adjoin the newly renovated support pavilion. provide a grand view and openness unseen in other casino vessels built to date. the United States Coast Guard. firm of Andrea Piacentini Design, both of Seattle, Washington.