Filterbelt News

Kvichak’s Rapid Response Skimmers (RRS) are perhaps best known for their use by the U.S. Navy, but the design of these robust and well-designed units has evolved over time and today boasts placement in virtually every major spill organization. When, just this past October, Kvichak Marine won a U.S. Navy contract for 12 30-foot Rapid Response Skimmers (RRS) for delivery over the next 18 months, with options for up to 30 additional skimmers to be delivered through 2019, that wasn’t necessarily earthshaking news. That’s because the aluminum Kvichak RRS is already the Navy’s tier one response asset. The new craft will supplement the Navy’s current fleet of over 85 units in operation in Navy ports worldwide since 1994.

Kvichak Marine won a US Navy contract for 12 30-ft.Rapid Response Skimmers (RRS) for delivery over the next 18 months, with options for up to 30 additional skimmers to be delivered through 2019. The Kvichak RRS is Navy’s tier one response asset, and these craft will supplement the Navy’s current fleet of over 85 units in operation in Navy ports worldwide since 1994. With over 20 years of continuous production and development, the Kvichak RRS is an extraordinarily well proven technology with an exceptional record for safety, performance and durability.

Elastec/American Marine manufactures and markets pollution control and oil spill response systems. The firm has ISO 9001:2008 certification and recently won an industry prize for their patented grooved disc oil skimming technology. They have also received international awards and recognition for this breakthrough technology. Instrumental in managing the controlled burn operation during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill, the firm’s core competency is oil spill response systems: skimmers, fire and containment booms, boom deployment systems, portable vacuum equipment, and other related equipment.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc. recently delivered fifteen 30’ Rapid Response Skimmers to the U.S. Navy. With the addition of these skimmers the Navy will be operating over 85 Kvichak-built skimmers worldwide as the Navy’s tier one response asset. The rapid-response, shallow-water capable skimmer is ideally suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays and harbors. The all-aluminum skimmer is 30’ – 3” long, with a beam of 9’-8’, and a draft of 2’ - 6", and is easily trailerable.

Oil spill equipment manufacturer Elastec brings new and sophisticated tools to a market in need of better, faster, more efficient and environmentally sound tactics. Just what the doctor ordered. Elastec/American Marine may well be the largest manufacturer of oil spill and environmental equipment in North America, but it is technology and innovation that are quickly propelling the firm to the top of the markets. With six U.S. locations, three foreign offices and a network of global dealers, ISO 9001 certified-Elastec produces a range of products that includes oil spill equipment (skimmers, containment boom, fire boom, dispersant application equipment), incinerators, vacuum systems, portable tanks, pumps and a dozen more entries.

Kvichak Marine, Industries, Inc. was recently awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy for fifteen (15) 30’ Rapid Response Skimmers to be delivered to various Navy bases over the next 12 months. The Navy currently owns and operates over 70 Kvichak-built skimmers worldwide as the Navy’s tier one response asset. The rapid-response, shallow-water capable skimmer is ideally suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays and harbors. The all-aluminum skimmer is 30.3  ft. long, with a beam of 9.6 ft., and a draft of 2.5 ft., and is easily trailerable.

Kvichak Marine Industries has recently delivered a 30' Rapid Response Oil Skimming Vessel to Argus Limited of Rockville, MD to provide front line spill response capability in the Russian Federation. The rapid-response, shallow-water vessel is ideally suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays, and harbors. The all-aluminum skimmer is 30’–3” long by 9’-8” wide with a draft of 2’-6" and is easily trailerable. Powered by twin 90hp outboards, the skimmer has a response speed of up to 17 knots and features an enclosed 2-person pilothouse for operator comfort.

KMI Leasing Co., LLC recently added a new 30-ft. Rapid Response Skimmer – Wide version outfitted with a Kvichak/Marco Filterbelt oil recovery module to their lease fleet. The Kvichak 30’ rapid-response skimmer is a shallow-water capable, near shore skimming vessel suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays, and harbors. The all-aluminum skimmer is 31’ – 3” long, with a beam of 9' - 8", and a draft of 2’ - 6" and is easily trailerable. Powered by twin 90hp outboards, the skimmer is capable of a response speed of over 17 knots…

Kvichak Marine Industries has recently delivered a 30-ft Rapid Response Oil Skimmer fitted with a Kvichak/Marco Pollution Control CL-1 Filterbelt oil recovery module to Administração do Porto de Sines (APS), Portugal. This is the second skimming vessel fitted with the Kvichak/Marco Filterbelt in the APS response fleet, the first was delivered in 1976 and is still in service. Construction of the skimmer was supervised at Kvichak Marine in Seattle by representatives of APS, and the vessel was delivered early, in less than 10 weeks from contract execution.

Kvichak Marine Industries is currently constructing a run of approximately 30 rapid response oil skimmers fitted with Marco Pollution Control CL-1 Filterbelt oil recovery modules for customers responding to the Gulf oil spill. The Kvichak/Marco Filterbelt is suited for high volume recovery of the oil types encountered in this spill. Kvichak is expecting over 100 skimming vessels utilizing the Filterbelt to be in operation on this spill in the coming weeks. This specialized system is adaptable to a variety of marine spill scenarios and is able to recover a very wide range of spills…

Kvichak Marine Industries is currently constructing two 30-ft Rapid Response Skimmers. One Commercial Duty Skimmer with upgraded recovery systems is for inventory to support the current effort in the Gulf oil spill cleanup and available for sale. The second skimmer is for the U.S. Navy and will join over 70 Kvichak skimmers in Navy ports worldwide. The rapid-response, shallow-water vessel is ideally suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays, and harbors. The all-aluminum skimmer is 30.3 ft long, with a beam of 8-ft, and a draft of 2.5 ft and is easily trailerable.

Kvichak Marine Industries recently delivered a 30-ft Rapid Response Skimmer to Environmental Safety & Health (ES&H) in Houma, La. This new skimmer will join their existing fleet of Kvichak skimmers currently involved in the oil spill clean up effort in the Gulf of Mexico. The rapid-response, shallow-water vessel is ideally suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays, and harbors. The all-aluminum skimmer is 30.3-ft long, with a beam of 8-ft and a draft of 2.5 ft and is easily trailerable.

Kvichak Marine, Industries, Inc. recently constructed and delivered two Rapid Response Skimmers to the U.S. Navy, which were purchased on Kvichak’s GSA schedule. Including this delivery, the Navy owns and operates over 70 Kvichak-built skimmers worldwide. The all-aluminum vessel is 30.25 ft in length with an eight-ft beam and can be transported on a trailer. Powered by twin Yamaha 4-stroke, 60hp outboard engines, the skimmer is designed to have a response speed of about 17 knots. During spill response and recovery operations the skimmer utilizes the Marco Filterbelt recovery system. Depending on the type of oil and pads used, the Filterbelt system can recover oils in the range of 50 – 400 barrels per hour. The Rapid Response Skimmer has a total recovered oil capacity of 1,000 gallons.

Kvichak Marine Industries has delivered the Cama'i, a 69 x 25-ft. aluminum catamaran to the Department of Public Safety Division of Alaska State Troopers. Designed by Crowther Multihulls, the Cama'i is scheduled to patrol the waters around Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula and Bristol Bay. The State Trooper mission requires a vessel with a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots. These speeds are attained by the propulsion choice of twin Caterpillar 3196 engines 660 bhp at 2300 rpm, driving 30-in. propellers through Twin Disc MG 5114A marine gears. The Cama'i will be used for protection of life and property, enforcement of commercial fishing regulations, search and rescue missions, and support of multi-agency law enforcement efforts.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc. acquired MARCO Pollution Control, a leader in the design and manufacturing of oil spill recovery equipment. With this newly added division Kvichak will expand its product offering for its existing line of all-aluminum vessels used in the spill recovery industry – many of which utilize the MARCO Filterbelt module as the primary recovery platform. “We saw this purchase as a perfect fit for Kvichak,” said company president, Keith Whittemore. “This purchase enhances our product line by providing owners and operators with a one-stop shopping source for the complete recovery package. Kvichak’s first goal following…

Seattle's MARCO shipyard has been completing a rush job for Great Lakes Towing affiliate TUGZ International and is expected to have three new tractor tugs ready for christening by February 13. At the same time, the yard has just started to cut steel for two slightly larger tractors being built for San Francisco-based BayDelta. The latter will measure 105 ft. and will be powered by twin Caterpillar diesels of 4,400 combined hp driving Ulstein Z-drive units fitted with high-performance Nautican nozzles. Towing winches and headline winches will be provided by Burrard Iron Works Ltd of Vancouver, B.C. The three TUGZ boats, to be christened Z-Three, Z-Four and Z-Five, are 95-ft., and will also make use of Caterpillars turning Ulstein z-drives.