Foss Shipyard News

EBDG announced the passing of Jim Cole. Over the span of a half century, Jim distinguished himself as among the best in his field, demonstrating extensive expertise in the design of a variety of vessel types ranging from ferries, innovative tugs and his beloved fishing boats. Jim earned a degree in Industrial Design from the University of Washington in 1957 entering Seattle's marine industry during the crab-boat boom of the 1960s, and gaining experience in Tacoma during the era of large tuna seiners. He would soon return to Seattle where he worked at Foss Shipyard for nearly 20 years.

Foss' Retrofitted Hybrid Tug to be on Display Tuesday, September 20 at Company's Rainier, Ore., Shipyard. Who: Foss' second hybrid tug, the retrofitted Campbell Foss, will be open to the media for the first time. What:     The Campbell Foss is sister to the Carolyn Dorothy, which has been bringing cleaner air and fuel efficiency to southern California ports since its 2010 arrival in Los Angeles and Long Beach. When:     10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where:    Foss Maritime's Rainier, Ore., shipyard / 611 E.

Foss Maritime Company, builder and operator of the world's first hybrid tugboat, will soon add another pioneering vessel to its Southern California fleet with the help of an air quality grant obtained by the Port of Long Beach. Building on the success of Foss' Carolyn Dorothy hybrid tug, which was launched into service at the Port of Long Beach in 2009, Foss will retrofit an existing tug with hybrid technology for service in San Pedro Bay, thanks to a $1m grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to the Port. The project will be implemented through a partnership between Foss, the Port of Long Beach, and the Port of Los Angeles. Foss will retrofit the Campbell Foss, a conventional dolphin tug currently assisting oceangoing vessels in the San Pedro Bay.

On June 1, 2009, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers announced new additions to its rank of Fellows. The membership grade of Fellow is accorded to individuals who have contributed to significant achievements in naval architecture, marine and ocean engineering, and related fields in the form of advances in design, research, production, operation, education, and associated management. G. Russell Bowler: As the Chief Engineer/Vice President of the largest and most successful sailing yacht design company in America, Russell has served as the lead naval architect in numerous groundbreaking designs. Mr. Bowler introduced modern composite construction to the Round the World Race of 1985/86 with the outstanding success of the maxi-yacht UBS Switzerland.

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc. recently expanded its Seattle facility by erecting a 130’ x 50’ sectional enclosure on its waterfront property. This new addition creates enough space for Kvichak, an all-aluminum boat builder, to accommodate a maximum vessel size of 120 by 40 ft. for repairs or retrofits. “We decided to expand our existing facility into our backyard,” explained Kvichak’s Keith Whittemore. The enclosure is fully lighted, powered and heated. The 130 ft. length is made up of three sections – one 50 ft. and two 40 ft. lengths. Each section is mounted on wheels and tracks for ease of opening and closing to suit various vessel sizes. Weather collars are installed where the sections overlap to prevent rain, wind and snow from entering the workspace.

Washington State Ferries (WSF) announced that the regular vessel on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route, the Rhododendron, will be out of service until mid-September for repair. WSF had hoped to have the vessel back in service this week, but has since learned that repairs will take longer than expected. The 34-car Hiyu, the smallest ferry in the fleet, is operating on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route in the meantime. Because the Hiyu carries fewer vehicles than the Rhododendron, travelers are encouraged to avoid peak periods or use other ferry routes if they have to travel to Vashon Island. The 60 year-old Rhododendron is at Foss Shipyard in Seattle for repairs to the rub rail approximately four feet above the waterline.