Donjon Shipbuilding News

Lawmakers in the U.S. are reintroducing legislation aiming codify the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking mission on the Great Lakes and increase the icebreaking capacity of the Great Lakes fleet.“Inadequate icebreaking capacity in the Great Lakes is costing us thousands of American jobs and millions in business revenue. We must boost our icebreaking capacity in the Great Lakes to keep our maritime commerce moving,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who introduced the bipartisan Great…

New legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) will codify the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking mission on the Great Lakes and increase the icebreaking capacity of the Great Lakes fleet.The Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act aims to increase Great lakes icebreaking capacity, which the lawmakers say will help the businesses and workers that rely on the maritime industry to transport their goods to market and grow the regional economy.“In recent years…

Murray & Associates, LLC has been commissioned to deliver a comprehensive design package for an 185,000 BBL Chemical Tank Barge new construction project. The ABS SafeHull barge is an articulated tug and barge type utilizing an Intercon Model 50 coupler system. It has a length of 584 ft and a breadth of 78 ft. Murray & Associates has been engaged from concept to detailed design, encompassing structure, stability, piping and mechanical systems, arrangements drawings as well as 3D structure and pipe lofting.

The Port of Erie is located on the southeast shore of Lake Erie in a natural bay formed and sheltered by Presque Isle peninsula. Its harbor entrance channel is narrow and 29 feet deep. Dredging is a constant concern. In fact, dredging of harbors around the Great Lakes has been a hot button issue for the maritime industry. Funding is provided by the Harbor Maintenance Tax which is a user fee collected by the federal government to ensure the adequate maintenance and operations of waterway infrastructure by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. On Tuesday, March 4, the Corps released their FY14 budget. It included an additional $25 million for Great Lakes harbors - $13.8 million of which will be dedicated to dredging.

Erie, Pennsylvania shipyard, Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair, reported that Seabulk Tankers has placed an order with them for a petroleum and chemical barge. The wholly owned subsidiary of Donjon Marine Co. Inc. whose main office is in Hillside, N.J., said they have entered into a contract with Seabulk Tankers to construct one 185,000 barrel coastal petroleum and chemical barge, which will become the barge component of an Articulated Tug and Barge (ATB) unit. Delivery is expected in the first half of 2016. J. Arnold White, President and CEO of Donjon Marine Co.

Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair, located in Erie, Pennsylvania, was recently awarded a contract by Sterling Equipment of Quincy, Massachusetts to construct two hopper barges, with an option for a third. The principal dimensions of these barges are 225’ long x 42’ wide x 12’ deep. Delivery of the barges is to be made by the middle to end of August 2013. Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair's facility, equipped with 1,250 ft. by 120 ft. by 22 ft. dry dock, is one of the largest shipyards of its kind on the Great Lakes. The facility includes 4,000 ft. of pier space and more than 200,000 square ft.

Great Lakes Shipyard recently appointed three management positions because of continued Shipyard expansion. Paul W. Deterding has been appointed as Vice President & General Manager. Formerly the General Manager at Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair Inc. LLC, Deterding brings over 25 years of experience in the marine, electrical and fire protection industries, mostly in the roles of Business Development and Team Leadership. David Dudley has been appointed as Shipyard Foreman - New Construction & Repair. Dudley previously worked for International Ship Repair & Marine Service Inc. as Ship Superintendent. He has 15 years maritime experience, extensive background in ship repairs, and six years of experience as a Coating Superintendent. Paul M.

American Steamship Compnay charter New Articulated Tug Barge American Steamship Company (“ASC”), a subsidiary of GATX Corporation (NYSE:GMT), announced its charter of a newly constructed Articulated Tug Barge (“ATB”). David W. Foster, president of ASC, said, “We are very pleased to add this new ATB, designed to transport dry-bulk commodities, to our fleet and look forward to commencing its operation on the Great Lakes during the upcoming sailing season. This U.S.-flagged 10,700 horsepower tug and 740 foot self-unloading barge with a cargo capacity of 34,000 tons, constructed by Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair, LLC of Erie, PA, will allow ASC to more efficiently serve our customers.”

Donjon Marine, Co., Inc., a marine services provider based in New Jersey, has named Paul Deterding General Manager of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair, LLC, located in Erie, PA.  Deterding will oversee the daily operations of the facility, including production, engineering, plant maintenance and administrative duties. Deterding has more than 25 years of experience in the marine, electrical and fire protection industries, serving most recently as Vice President and Part Owner of SEC Fire, LLC, and before that as Operations Manager for Hiller Systems, Inc.  He also served in the U.S. Navy from 1972-1984 as an electrician, recruiter, instructor and Quality Assurance Supervisor. He is a graduate of Faulkner University in Montgomery, AL.

Donjon Marine Co., Inc., along with partner Seacor Holdings Inc. announced the completion of the tugboat, Ken Boothe, Sr. The 10,700 hp tug will work as an Articulated Tug/Barge ( ATB) in conjunction with a 34,000 ton capacity self unloading bulk cargo barge. The tugboat was constructed in the Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair facility over the last 14 months. The still-to-be-named cargo barge is scheduled to be delivered in early Spring of 2012. "We are very pleased to see the completion of this state-of-the-art towing vessel, and to share in the success with our partner Seacor.

Patrick J. O’Hern has joined Donjon Marine Co., Inc.’s Shipbuilding and Repair as a consultant. He brings more than 35 years of shipyard experience in the Great Lakes region to this position as a result of his longtime employment at Bay Shipbuilding Company located in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., where he last served as Vice President and General Manager.   “We are pleased to announce the addition of Pat O’Hern and we welcome his experience and history of success to the Donjon management team.  Under Pat's leadership, many vessels constructed within the Great Lakes were built specifically for a number of coastal markets, so his success in both fresh and salt water markets is noteworthy,"  said J. Arnold Witte, President and CEO, Donjon Marine Co., Inc.

As part of the ongoing construction process, on December 22, 2010, Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair, floated the 135-foot-long, 10,500-horsepower tugboat Ken Boothe Sr. in Presque Isle Bay. The vessel was moved from Donjon Shipbuilding’s 1250-foot graving dock to a wet berth within the facility where final construction and outfitting of the vessel will be completed in mid-February 2011. The vessel is named for Mr. Kenneth Boothe, Sr., former President of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair…

When the 1,000-ft-long Great Lakes freighter Edwin H. Gott arrived at Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, it marked the beginning of the busiest time of year for Great Lakes shipyards. This project and other annual winter maintenance work on U.S.-flag Great Lakes ships will provide jobs for more than 1,200 men and women at U.S. shipyards around the Great Lakes. The Gott, one of the largest U.S.-flag vessels working the Great Lakes, is having new engines installed this winter that will increase its fuel efficiency and significantly reduce its air emissions. The vessel, built in Sturgeon Bay in 1978, carries iron ore from the Twin Ports of Duluth…

In the MarineNews Yearbook edition we looked at how the past year has treated the tug, tow and barge, the offshore and the passenger vessel markets, and we ask industry experts about the outlook for 2011. While tragedy struck the offshore markets and the recession continues to impact many companies, business leaders also have good news to share. In the tug, tow and barge market, both Donjon Marine Co. and Mobro Marine seemed to agree that diversification is a powerful asset when dealing with turbulent economic times.

Donjon Marine, Co., Inc., a global marine services provider based in N.J., announced the creation of Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair, LLC (DSR). Through an agreement with the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority and the acquisition of the assets of the former Erie Shipbuilding, LLC, DSR will engage in shipbuilding and repair on its 44-acre site on Lake Erie, Pa. The acquisition adds shipbuilding and repair to Donjon’s existing spectrum of marine services, including dredging, salvage, heavy lift and towing. DSR’s facility, equipped with a 1,250-ft by 120-ft by 22-ft dry dock, is the largest shipyard of its kind on the Great Lakes.