Graul Marine News

Burger Boat Company announced the launch of P/V Lucia, an 89-foot steel passenger vessel for Wendella Sightseeing Company, Inc. Lucia, designed by Timothy Graul Marine Design of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., was launched into the Manitowoc River Friday, May 29 with her owners, the Burger staff and the Manitowoc community in attendance. Lucia is styled after other vessels in Wendella's fleet and will be used for its Combined Lake and River Tour, the Chicago River Architecture Tour, specialty cruises and private events.

Burger Boat Company announced that it has received a contract for the construction of an 89-foot (27-meter) steel passenger vessel for Wendella Sightseeing Company, Chicago, Ill. Styled after other vessels in Wendella's fleet, this vessel will be used for their signature Combined Lake and River Tour, the Chicago River Architecture Tour, specialty cruises and private events. The 89-foot (27-meter) steel passenger vessel provides an enclosed, climate controlled main deck cabin where guests will find a striking black granite bar and room for socializing.

The 89-ft steel excursion boat, Linnea built by Blount Boats for Wendella Sightseeing Company was completed and accepted on July 20, 2010. The vessel was delivered to Chicago via Erie Canal and began service on July 30th. The delivery for the Linnea is especially timely on account of the fact that Wendella Sightseeing, Chicago’s original tour boat company is celebrating its 75th season as one of the city’s premier sightseeing and tourism venues. The new Linnea was designed by Timothy Graul Marine Design of Sturgeon Bay…

Blount Boats, Inc. has signed a contract with Wendella Sightseeing Company, Inc. to construct an 89 by 30-ft steel excursion vessel. This vessel will be a sister ship to the M/V Wendella (Hull 320) built by the Blount shipyard in 2007. The vessel was designed by Timothy Graul Marine Design and will operate in the Chicago area. The 300 passenger vessel will be powered by twin screw C12 Caterpillar engines, 385hp at 1,800 rpm with ZF gears. Delivery for Hull #330 is scheduled for May 2010 via the Erie Canal in time for the 75th anniversary celebration of Wendella Sightseeing Company. Wendella Sightseeing, Chicago’s original boat tour company has been operating since 1935.

The passenger vessel market is a classic mature marine market. Segments of it are doing well, while other parts have literally died. For example, the overnight segment of the market saw one substantial vessel delivered in 2003 with none on the horizon for 2004. The Empress of the North, a 360-ft. sternwheeler was put into service in September working the West Coast-Alaska route. Now that ice is a problem in Alaska, the vessel is working the Columbia River system in the Northwest U.S. The vessel was the largest vessel ever built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash. and is owned by American West Steamboat Company, Portland, Ore. Developing overnight service is the most difficult part of the passenger vessel industry to get established.

There are several quick conclusions you can draw about passenger boat construction in the new millennium. First it is a smaller market than 10 years ago with far fewer boats being built today than a decade ago. Secondly almost all of these vessels are built on the east or west coast. There are virtually no passenger boats being built in the south. Third, the number one vessel type being built is the ferryboat and more specifically the all-passenger ferry that shuttles people at 25 knots or better. In the years between 1987 and 1993 shipyards all over the country were building 600-passenger excursion-dinner boats in great numbers as sightseeing and dining vessels on America’s great rivers, lakes and bays became increasingly popular.

In April, the State of Illinois will take delivery of the new river ferry for crossing the Illinois River between Grafton and Brussels Township in Illinois' Calhoun County. A 120- by 35-ft. barge, capable of carrying 24 cars, a couple of legal-highway-limit tractor trailer rigs or the equivalent, will be moved by a towboat. The 56- by 18-ft. tow boat will be powered by a pair of Cummins 6CTA-8.3M main engines each delivering 250 hp at 1,800 rpm. An interesting ball and socket system will link the tow boat and the barge. Extending out from the mid point of the downstream side of the barge, a structure is linked to a similar structure from mid-ship on the towboat's bow. The tow boat is made up to the barge by a ball and socket on these structures.

Blount Boats, Inc. has signed a contract with Wendella Sightseeing Company, Inc. to construct an 89 x 30 ft. steel excursion vessel. The vessel was designed by Timothy Graul Marine Design and will operate in the Chicago area. The 300 passenger vessel will be powered by twin screw Caterpillar engines. Delivery for Hull #320 is scheduled for April 2007 via the Erie Canal.

Eastern Shipbuilding has been contracted to build a 96 x 40-ft. aluminum catamaran research vessel for the Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami. The design for the new boat was by Tim Graul Marine Designs of Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin. DeJong and LeBay are working with the yard on engineering details. Propulsion will be provided by a pair of 19-liter six-cylinder Cummins QSK19 main engines each generating 760 hp @ 2100 rpm. The drive system, from the main engines aft, is supplied by Servogear AS of Norway. The Servogear model HD220H has a ratio of 2.609:1 and turns an 1,100-mm controllable pitch propeller. Steering by Jastram and two Wesmar bowthrusters are integrated with the Servogears to operate with a Simrad Dynamic Positioning system.

Jim Murray of Freeport Shipbuilding will be delivering several more of his popular passenger vessels for the coming season. One, Chicago's Little Lady, will be delivered from the Florida yard along the intercoastal waterway and up through the Mississippi and Illinois River systems to Chicago for owners Bob and Holly Agra. Designed by Timothy Graul Marine Design of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the 68 x 23-ft. steel-hulled vessel is of single-chine form with a plumb stem and round (almost a fantail) stern. She was intended to have a family resemblance to her big sister, 225-passenger Chicago's First Lady, but is an original design in her own right.

For many years the fortunes of the Great Lakes-based shipbuilders and naval architects was based solidly on the building level of the owners who were also based on the 94,000 sq. mi. of water that makes up the five Great Lakes. That is no longer as true a statement as it once was. While there are many projects in this area designed and build by Great Lakes firms for owners in the area, an impressive number of significant commercial market projects as varied as Staten Island, New York ferries and Gulf of Mexico crew/supply boats were designed and or built on the Great Lakes. The Kennedy Class of double ended auto/passenger ferries is one of the most recognizable images of New York City. Every weeknight millions of people see one during the opening of the David Letterman Show.

With over 550 vessels in service, Tidewater, Inc., is by far the world's largest offshore oil service operator. Headquartered in New Orleans, La., Tidewater operates wherever offshore oil and gas is found. While the industry has undergone a slow down in 2002-03, Tidewater is confident that current trends indicate business will improve and the company has been upgrading its fleet of vessels to meet customer needs. "We have a very strong balance sheet," said Stephen Dick, Executive Vice President of operations for North America, North Sea and West Africa for the company. "We have been moving aggressively in the area of new vessel construction, especially U.S. flagged supply boats and crew/supply vessels," Dick added.