Gilbert Associates News

Bayou la Batre, Ala. shipbuilder Steiner Shipyard reports it has launched a new ferry it is building for the Maine Department of Transportation.The 104-foot passenger/vehicle ferry, named Charles Norman Shay, is designed by Gilbert Associates and is scheduled to be delivered in the near future.Once completed, the brand-new vessel will service the Maine State Ferry Service’s (MSFS) longest route, between Rockland and Matinicus Island (23 miles). It will provide the necessary upgrade to the ferry service that transports nearly 500…

With travel and tourism nearing pre-2020 levels, and transit systems benefiting from a return to work, passenger vessels have seen renewed activity. In its year-end review, John Groundwater, Executive Director of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), which advocates for the sector in Washington, D.C. wrote: “As we are nearing the end of the calendar year, we are delighted to report that our industry, and our members, are reporting far and wide that they have experienced very…

Florida shipbuilder Eastern Shipbuilding Group has cut first steel for a new auto and passenger ferry for the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company.The new vessel, designed by Braintree, Mass.-based Gilbert Associates, is being constructed at Eastern's Allanton, Fla. shipyard and is scheduled for delivery in 2024.The 302-foot Subchapter H auto and passenger ferry will operate between Bridgeport, Conn. and Port Jefferson, N.Y. It will have capacity for 1,000 passengers and 124 cars…

Bayou la Batre, Ala. shipbuilder Steiner Shipyard has been selected by the Maine Department of Transportation for the construction of the Matinicus Island Replacement Ferry for the Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS).The 104-foot passenger/vehicle ferry is designed by Gilbert Associates. Once completed, the ferry will provide the Rockland-based ferry service with a brand-new vessel capable of servicing the MSFS’s longest route to Matinicus Island (23 miles). It will provide the necessary upgrade to the ferry service that transports nearly 500…

North Kingstown, R.I. shipyard Senesco Marine said it has been selected by the Maine Department of Transportation to build a new hybrid-electric passenger vessel for the Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS).The 154-foot passenger-vehicle ferry, designed by Gilbert Associates, will be equipped with BAE Systems’ electric hybrid propulsion solution to deliver reduced and zero-emission operations capability for the Rockland-based ferry service that serves nearly 500,000 riders and 190…

This year, despite innumerable challenges and setbacks, a great number of new U.S.-flagged vessels made their way into service. In addition to Maid of the Mist's new electric tour boats James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla featured Wednesday, the newbuilds highlighted below are some of the most noteworthy to come out of U.S. shipyards in 2020.DredgerU.S. dredging contractors have been adding tonnage in a big way. This Spring, Callan Marine added a significant piece to the U.S. fleet with its new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur.

Metal Shark announced Monday its Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipyard has delivered its first newbuild, a 120’ x 35’ river towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboat Stephanie Pasentine, which bears the distinction of being Louisiana-based Metal Shark’s first-ever steel newbuild and also its first inland towboat, was designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc.The vessel’s twin Cat 3512C marine diesel engines deliver 2…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group has delivered of the M/V Jaden Pasentine (Hull 200). The 70th 90’x 32’x 10’ Inland Towboat built by Eastern for Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, LA. In 2018, Florida Marine Transporters, LLC signed four more additional towboats, bringing the total to seventy (70) vessels contracted over the last 14 years. The M/V Jaden Pasentine  was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility and designed by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.The M/V Jaden Pasentine  for Florida Marine is powered by two (2) Caterpillar 3512C Tier 3 diesel engines rated at 1…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group has delivered the M/V Brian Boudreaux (Hull 198). It is also the first new construction USCG Sub-M towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, LA.It was in early 2018, when Florida Marine Transporters, LLC signed four more additional towboats, bringing the total to seventy (70) vessels contracted over the last 14 years. The M/V Brian Boudreaux was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.

Metal Shark announced it has secured a contract to build three 120’ x 35’ river towboats for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT), signalling the U.S. shipbuilder’s entry into the towboat market.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboats were designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc. and will be powered by twin Cat 3512C Tier 3 marine diesel engines rated at 1,911 HP each. Construction is underway at Metal Shark Alabama, with deliveries commencing in 2019.With the FMT contract…

Eastern Shipbuilding’s forward-thinking inland towboat design now features CAT Tier 4 propulsion and aftertreatment. When Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) introduced its cutting edge 4,000 hp Thunderbolt inland towboat designed around twin azimuthing AAA Propulsion electric V-Pod propulsion and diesel-electric technology back in 2015, the approach was collaborative, with input from operators, naval architects (Gilbert Associates, Inc. (GAI)) and propulsion OEM’s. In selecting the podded propulsion system for inclusion on the design, Eastern met with two inland owner/operators that had Z-Drive towboats, and others that didn’t. Starting as far back as 2013, listening to each and noting their concerns, it was decided that the V-Pod was the best solution.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V CAPT. RICKY TORRES (Hull 194) on October 11, 2016, and the M/V CULLEN PASENTINE (Hull 195) on December 28, 2016; the 64th and the 65th 90’ Inland Towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, LA., continuing FMT’s ongoing new build program. It was in early 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, LLC signed an additional towboat, bringing the total to sixty-five (65) vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Five of the most recent 90’ inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past twelve months. The M/V CAPT. RICKY TORRES and the M/V CULLEN PASENTINE were constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V Lawrence Campbell (Hull 193) on April 12, 2016, the 63rd 90-foot inland towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, LLC of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing newbuild program. It was in early 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, LLC signed an additional towboat, bringing the total to 65 vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Five of the most recent 90-foot inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past 12 months.

Propulsion evolves, improves and powers forward in the inland markets. And, Z-Drive propulsion is the future. In a white paper released late in 2014 by The Shearer Group, Ed Shearer and Greg Beers outlined The Next Generation of inland vessels, what will drive design changes and the advantages of azimuthing stern drives – or ‘Z-Drives,’ for short. The authors point out that, until recently, towboats on all the inland waterways and Gulf Coast have traditionally been built using main engines connected to reduction gearboxes connected to long drive shafts passing through the towboat hull. In a nutshell, according The Shearer Group, the advantages of using z-Drives on inland towboats include decreased installation time…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announced it has delivered the 62nd 90-foot inland towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing new build program. The new vessel, M/V Harvey Sbisa (Hull 192), was delivered on November 30, 2015. It was in the Spring of this year, when Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed an additional towboat, bringing the total to 65 vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Five of the most recent 90-foot inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past 12 months.

Eastern Shipbuilding offers the 4,200 hp Thunderbolt inland towboat designed around twin azimuthing Verhaar Omega electric V-Pod propulsion and diesel-electric technology. The ESG approach was collaborative, with input from operators, naval architects (Gilbert Associates, Inc. (GAI)) and propulsion OEM’s (Verhaar Omega: since 2012, 19 Omega V-pods have been installed and are in service in Europe on various types of vessels). Thunderbolt will be built to ABS rules, but will not be classed.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V Rena Marie (Hull 191), the 61st 90-foot inland towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing new build program. Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed an order for additional towboats earlier this year, bringing the total vessels contracted over the last 10 years to 65. Five of the most recent 90-foot inland towboat deliveries to FMT occurred over the past 12 months. Delivered July 9, 2015, Rena Marie was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, Mass.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. announced the delivery of another 80’ Inland River Towboat, the M/V Chip Stiebing, to Florida Marine Transporters (FMT) of Mandeville, La. Delivered in March 2015, this is the second 80’ towboat of the three vessel contract with FMT. Horizon, a Bayou La Batre, Alabama shipyard has delivered several 140’ and 120’ inland river towboats over the eight-year relationship with FMT. The project manager for the construction of the M/V Chip Stiebing, Mike Sims, has now delivered two of the three 80’ vessels on-time.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. introduced its new 120-foot, 4,200-horsepower Inland Towboat design, THUNDERBOLT, combining twin electric V-Pod propulsion and diesel-electric technology for what the builder calls its “vision of the future for the U.S. Eastern said the idea for the THUNDERBOLT came from across the aisle conversations at the 2013 International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans. On the rivers, thruster propulsion systems are starting to get noticed and are outperforming conventional nozzle propeller propulsion systems with main/flanking rudder steering. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. and Verhaar Omega, B.V. began discussions and realized they were driving towards a more refined towboat thruster propulsion system design.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. introduced its new 120-ft., 4,200-hp Inland Towboat design, Thunderbolt, combining twin electric V-Pod propulsion and diesel-electric technology for what the builder calls its “vision of the future for the U.S. Eastern said the idea for the Thunderbolt came from a conversation at a trade show. On the rivers, thruster propulsion systems are starting to get noticed and are outperforming conventional nozzle propeller propulsion systems with main/flanking rudder steering. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. and Verhaar Omega, B.V.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. delivered the M/V Bill Seymour (Hull 190), the 60th 90’ Inland Towboat to Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing newbuild program. It was in early January 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed an additional towboat, bringing the total to 63 vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Five of the most recent 90’ inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past twelve months. The M/V Bill Seymour was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. announce that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, La. exercised another additional 90’x32’x10’ “Canal Class” Inland Towboat to the six-vessel program currently under contract. In September 2014, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed the seventh vessel and this additional towboat brings the total to 62 vessels contracted. Three of the now seven towboats have been delivered to Florida Marine since February 2014. This option vessel will be constructed from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, Mass.

During the 2014/2015 Holiday Season, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. Inc. of Mandeville, LA. for its ongoing new build program. Also, Florida Marine signed a contract for the 63rd vessel (Hull 193), an additional 90’ Inland Towboat. It was in early January 2015, when Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed this additional towboat, bringing the total to sixty-three (63) vessels contracted over the last 10 years. Four (4) of the most recent 90’ inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past ten months. The M/V TY DOLESE is the 59th Vessel delivered in this ongoing series of now sixty-three (63) vessels. This recently signed vessel, Hull 193 will be constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates, Inc. of Boston, MA.