Inch Stainless Steel News

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, announced it has received an order from the St. Johns Bar Pilots for a new high-speed launch.The newbuild, to be based on the Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder's 40-foot Resilient Class pilot boat introduced in 2005, is scheduled to be delivered to the Florida-based pilots in mid-2024—the pilots’ fourth Gladding-Hearn pilot boat since 1962.Designed by Ray Hunt Design, the all-aluminum launch measures 35 feet overall. It has a 13-foot beam, including the foam collar, and a 3-foot draft.

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.

The emerging trend of marrying the design of an articulated tug and barge (ATB) to a particular propulsion system to maximize efficiencies of that system has, of late, been taking hold in workboat markets. For example, one recent project involving a dynamic partnership between Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc, Guarino & Cox, LLC (GCL) naval architects, Nautican Research & Development Ltd., integrated propulsion unit manufacturers, and VT Halter Marine shipbuilders, aptly demonstrates the concept in practice. What the collaboration produced, is even more important.

Over the years, Rodriguez triple-screw shallow-draft towboats have won a following in the shallow waters of the Mississippi River estuary. Many of these boats are the distinctive aft-cabin Lugger-type of vessel. Recently Mid-River Terminals of Osceola, Ark. has taken delivery of a new design towboat from Rodriguez. With a conventional forward-house pusher configuration, the new 70- by 30-foot MV Dianna Lynn utilizes the same propulsion as the Lugger tugs. This is composed of three in-line six-cylinder Cummins QSK19 engines, each delivering 660 HP.

Dann Marine Towing, LC., is a fifth generation family owned and operated tugboat company based in Chesapeake City, MD. The model-bow twin-screw tug Sea Coast was built at Rayco Shipbuilders in 1980 and is one of Dann Marine’s 18-tug fleet. She is 65 feet overall with a 24-foot beam and an 8.9-foot draft. She carries 16,000 gallon fuel and 5,000 gallons of water. One of many versatile tugs working in US waters of this class, she is registered for Coastwide Unrestricted. She can operate in push-mode with a pair of 20-ton Nabrico deck winches, each loaded with 110 feet of one-inch cable.

LEEVAC Shipyards, LLC recently delivered the first of two Z-Tech 2400 harbor tug boats, the Chloe K to Bay-Houston Towing Co. TheChloe K was constructed at LEEVAC Shipyard Jennings, LLC and was later transported, via one of LEEVAC’s own dry-docks, to LEEVAC Shipyard Lake Charles, LLC facility where the Chloe Kreceived her final outfitting, commissioning, and testing. “This is the first tug that LEEVAC Shipyards, LLC has built in many years. This was namely due to the draft restrictions at our Jennings facility.

Mid America Shipyards LLC, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, has just delivered another of its truckable tug boats. The vessel has been shipped to a project in up-state New York. This tug boat was constructed in 30 working days which was done in half the time of our last tugs. The J-KRAB is the Seventh Vessel to leave our yard this year so far. John Deere 6081's gives the vessel 660 hp. Twin Disc. Vessel weight    Approx.

Lockport Fabrication has splashed another of their classic gulf-style tugs into the Bayou this month. The 82 by 29-foot model bow tug joins LA Carriers, LLC of Cut Off, Louisiana. The new vessel joins the Bayou LaFourche-based firm founded by Mr. Russell Plaisance in 1986. The firm has achieved success towing general cargos as well as serving the oil industry. With a molded depth of 10 feet and a draft of only eight feet, the tug delivers a total of 1,980 HP. This high horsepower…