Catalina Island News

Several months ago, Avalon Freight Services (AFS) approached Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) to explore different keel options to improve the directional stability of its landing craft, Catalina Provider.EBDG's team of engineers worked closely with AFS leadership to understand the vessel's particulars, operation and route, detailed project objectives and determine a project plan. Multiple keel designs were considered as viable options for the 150-foot landing craft. EBDG then…

The Port of Los Angeles has announced a development opportunity for an Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal at Berths 46 and 50, with plans to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) later this fall.The proposal is intended for cruise lines, terminal operators, and real estate developers interested in creating a new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in a prime location for expansion of west coast cruise travel at America’s busiest port. Located on the south end of an extensive LA Waterfront development, the proposed 13-acre site offers unique panoramic views of the coastline and Catalina Island. The area is currently used as a concert venue, special event site, and temporary berth location for cruise ships.

Marine News looks back at the past 12 months and showcases the best of North America’s workboat design shop and shipyard output. In a year where some stakeholders might not rank 2016 as the best of years in the shipyard or on the waterfront, we might disagree. And, there is plenty to write about. New contracts, deliveries and designs all combine to show that the collective workboat waterfront is moving forward, with technology, the environment and replacement tonnage requirements as the main drivers.

Anything but business as usual, trusted partners operate innovative, environmentally correct and cutting edge equipment – in a decidedly niche trade. A  new freight service began operation in southern California this past April. For the businesses and residents of Catalina Island who depend on freight from the mainland, this new service aims to provide the safest, fastest, quietest, most efficient, eco-friendly and state-of-the-art freight transportation in the island’s history. Customers will also benefit from the use of unique and innovative tonnage built specifically for this niche trade.

All American Marine, Inc. (AAM), together with Harbor Breeze Cruises, has announced the completion and delivery of an aluminum catamaran passenger vessel to operate in the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors. The new vessel, M/V La Espada, is a multi-purpose vessel and will provide harbor tours, whale watch cruises, dinner cruises, and charter ferry service to Catalina Island. La Espada, whose name means ‘the sword’, is 83’ x 29.5’ and is certified to carry 250 passengers. Harbor Breeze Cruises previously contracted with All American Marine to build a similar catamaran, the M/V Triumphant, in 2013. The success of the design with both customer appeal and fuel-efficient operations brought Dan Salas…

Avalon Freight Services co-founded by Greg and Tim Bombard and Harley Franco, will debut freight service on Friday, April 1, 2016. Currently scheduled to operate a minimum of five days a week, year round, the company will transport freight from Berth 95 in San Pedro and the Pebbly Beach freight facility in Avalon. In addition to scouring the country seeking the best Landing Craft and Tug and Barge systems, the new company will provide the safest, fastest, quietest, most efficient…

Carnival Imagination, a cruise ship headed to dock in Long Beach, was diverted to San Diego Sunday due to forecasts of high surf in Long Beach. Vacation-goers expecting to embark on a Carnival cruise to Mexico instead found themselves sitting on a shuttle en route to San Diego! Big waves along the Southern California coast on Sunday forced a cruise ship to change course and led to at least 16 rescues, authorities said. More than 2,000 guests with tickets to board the cruise ship Carnival Imagination in Long Beach were bussed 100 miles south due to dangerous conditions in the water, a Carnival spokeswoman said. The ship was forced to…

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reported that a multiagency response lead to the rescue of two men after their boat capsized outside Marina Del Rey Harbor, Feb. 17, 2014. Search and rescue watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach received two reports of red distress flares near Marina Del Rey Harbor from a Good Samaritan and a sailing vessel returning to Marina Del Rey from Catalina Island at approximately 6 p.m. Using the information provided by the good Samaritans, such as elevation of the flare and angle of observation, watchstanders determined a likely location of origin and then issued an urgent marine information broadcast to which Marina Del Rey Harbor Patrol and Bay Watch responded.

The only ferry service serving Santa Catalina Island from mainland USA ports shifts its San Pedro, California facility. Cataline Express is moving to a new San Pedro passenger terminal close to the old one and it will be open for service in time for the summer season. The multi-million dollar project in cooperation with the Port of Los Angeles includes an upgrade of the adjacent passenger parking. The terminal will retain its address of Berth 95, known as the Catalina Sea and Air Terminal. Service by boat to Catalina originated from the Wilmington/San Pedro area in the 1800s. The current Berth 95 was built in 1966 and was originally the port for the Catalina Steamer.

The largest passenger catamaran to be completed by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders - at 144 ft. in length and with a 450-passenger capacity - was delivered to Catalina Cruises. The four-engine, 36 knot vessel is planned for service between Long Beach, Calif. and Catalina Island. Catalina Jet employs four Caterpillar 3512B, electronically controlled, 1,950-hp diesel engines to power MJP J550 DD waterjets supplied by Ulstein Bird Johnson. Power is transmitted through unique ZF gearboxes with diagonal offset, 1.42:1 ratio reduction gears. An active ride control system was supplied by Maritime Dynamics, to smooth out the passage on the Catalina Channel. The system includes trim tabs and "T-foils" beneath the twin hulls to counteract the pitch and roll motions induced by the sea surface.

Nichols Brothers Boatbuilders are building a highspeed catamaran ferry for San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation district. Designed by International Catamaran Designs (INCAT) of Sydney Australia, this will be Nichols Brothers 27th U.S. built highspeed catamaran. The vessel will be 139 ft. overall with a 34-ft. beam and draft of 9 ft. The individual hulls will have a beam of 9 ft.. A 37-knot speed is predicted with four 16-cylinder Cummins KTA50-M2 main engines delivering 1,600 hp each at 1800 rpm. Each IMO emission certified engine will drive a Hamilton model 571 water jet through a ZF Marine BU 460D marine gear. Electrical service will be provided by a 125 kW generator set powered by a Cummins Marine 6CT8.3DM engine.

The Navy rejected safety experts' recommendations that U.S. submarines be required to use "active" sonar before surfacing to avoid collisions like the one that sank a Japanese trawler off Hawaii. Active sonar sends out ping-like signals that bounce off objects and detects their range. Passive sonar uses a device called a hydrophone to amplify noises in a broader area. Contrary to a 1990 National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, commanding officers have complete discretion to decide which system to use under the circumstances, the Navy said. "We don't have a requirement to use active sonar," said Lt. Cmdr. Cate Mueller, a Navy spokeswoman at the Pentagon.

The transit between Long Beach and Catalina Island will be reduced to "well under" one hour when the "Jet Cat Express" joins the Catalina Express fleet. "This will take place before Memorial Day," according to Greg Bombard, president of the California company. The 381-passenger, 145-foot, 39-knot catamaran ferry was delivered to Catalina Express in ceremonies on Whidbey Island, Washington, on April 28. The vessel, designed by International Catamarans Designs, Ltd., (Incat) Australia, was the 26th passenger catamaran built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Inc., for U.S. service since the program began in 1983. Meanwhile, Nichols Brothers is building two other Incat catamarans for the San Francisco bay area.

14, 2003. Pride will assume this route in September 2003). the first in the U.S. economic catalyst to the Long Beach community. in terms of convenience, efficiency and spaciousness," he said. contribute significantly to the local economy," he added. shopping opportunities. packages at the Queen Mary are available for Ecstasy and Elation guests. the Pacific, Shoreline Village, and Rainbow Harbor.

General Dynamics Corp. dropped its unsolicited $1.4 billion bid for Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (NNS) after the government said it would oppose the union. "While we find the Department of Defense's decision disappointing, we respect it and have withdrawn our offer," said Nicholas Chabraja, chairman and CEO. General Dynamics announced the offer, which valued NNS at $38.50 a share, in February. NNS, which already had a pending agreement to buy Avondale Industries, Inc. for $470 million, asked the government to review it. "General Dynamics believes that its proposed acquisition of NNS would have meant significant savings for the U.S. Navy, enhanced value for the shareholders of both companies, and still preserved jobs," the company said.

Nichols Brothers, based in Whidbey Island, Wash., recently delivered a 144 ft., 450-capacity passenger catamaran for Catalina Cruises, dubbed Catalina Jet. The vessel, which is the largest passenger catamaran to be constructed by Nichols, will run between Long Beach and Catalina Island at a speed of 36 knots.Employing four Caterpillar electronically controlled 1,950-hp diesel engines, to power Ulstein Bird Johnson waterjets, Catalina Jet is constructed with an active ride control system for comfortable sailing along the Catalina Channel. The system, supplied by Maritime Dynamics is comprised of trim tabs and T-foils beneath the twin…

In terms of new deliveries, the West Coast ferry industry will probably not see another period to match the past 18 months for some time. All three of the large government-operated ferry systems in the Pacific Northwest - Washington State, BC Ferries and the Alaska Marine Highway System - received new tonnage, as did a number of smaller operators along the coast. Still under construction are two high-speed vehicle-carrying catamarans for BC Ferries and a single passenger-only high-speed cat for Washington State. In addition, the Nichols Bros. yard at Freeland, Wash. is completing a 40-knot catamaran for operation between southern California and Catalina Island, and a second 35-knot cat for deployment in Alaska by the Brad Phillips organization.

Hornblower Marine Services and Virginia-based, MetroMarine Holdings have started a new passenger ferry service between Downtown Hampton and Downtown Norfolk. HarborLink - as the service is known - will be operated by Hornblower Marine Services. This service is privately financed by the group and supplemented by CMAQ federal funds. The contract for this new ferry service was awarded to the joint venture partnership in 1998 by the City of Hampton and Norfolk, following an RFP process. CMAQ federal funds were applied for by the City of Hampton and granted in earlier this year. A further two years of federal funding has also been granted. This new ferry service will be the beginning of a more regional service envisioned for this new partnership in the Hampton Roads area.

Measuring 175 ft. in length, dinner cruise vessel Starship was recently delivered to Starship Cruise Lines of Biloxi, Miss. Boasting a mega-yacht style, the vessel was designed by Naval Architects Dejong & Lebet of Jacksonville, Fla., and constructed by Freeport, Fla.-based Freeport Shipbuilding. Plachter-Vogel Design provided interior architecture. USCG-Certified under Subchapter K for 600 passengers, plus 30 crew, Starship carries a Stability Letter for Partially Protected waters. The vessel is designed to have a 5-5.6 ft. full load draft enabling it to access some of the Biloxi area's more shallow waterways. The hull features tunnels to allow large enough propellers while minimizing the draft.