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Jim Ducker News

08 Oct 2020

USCG Takes Delivery of First Upgraded 47' Motor Lifeboat

(Photo: Birdon America)

The U.S. Coast Guard recently accepted the Birdon America's first upgraded 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (47 MLB) at the agency's National Motor Lifeboat School (NMLBS) in Ilwaco, Wash., completing the first major milestone in the MLB Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). The first article vessel will undergo a four-month operational assessment by members of NMLBS.The 47 MLB is the Coast Guard's standard lifeboat, designed to weather hurricane force winds and heavy seas, capable of surviving winds up to 60 knots, breaking surf up to 20 feet and impacts up to three Gs.

09 Sep 2014

MN 100: NAMJet, LLC

NAMJet’s advanced marine propulsion systems have set the standard for thrust, durability and speed for more than 25 years. Leading the way are its TRAKTOR Jet line of high-thrust marine jets designed for a variety of commercial, military and workboat applications. NAMJet won a large military boat building contract in March to supply tractor jets for the U.S. Army’s one-of-a-kind bridge erection boats. According to NAMJet, its TRAKTOR Jet’s mass flow design pumps more water than high-speed jets…

08 Jul 2014

NAMJet Seals Unique Military Contract

NAMJet’s tractor jets seal the deal on a significant military boat building contract. The Army’s one-of-a-kind bridge erection boats fill an obscure, shallow draft workboat niche, while showcasing capabilities that someday could be commercially viable. When the U.S. Army turned to industry in its quest to design the next generation, prototype bridge erection boat, the ensuing competition attracted no less than three industry competition teams, all of whom eventually submitted prototypes in 2010. Birdon America, Inc., teaming with a (now) wholly owned NAMJet propulsion group, was one of the players. These models were then handed over to the U.S. Army for extensive testing. Eventually, in March of this year, Birdon won the US Army Bridge Erection Boat (BEB) platform contract.

24 Mar 2014

NAMJet Wins Huge US Army Bridge Boat Propulsion Contract

BEB photo courtesy of NAMJet

Marine waterjet manufacturer NAMJet says it has been contracted to provide propulsion systems for Birdon America's US Army Bridge Erection Boat (BEB) 400-boat replacement platform. At the same time NAMJet announces its manufacturing and operational HQ has moved to Denver, Colorado. Bridge Erection Boats are primarily used to provide propulsion and maneuverable thrust to support temporary floating bridges often made necessary when existing bridge crossings have been destroyed in military conflict.

28 May 2013

Unique Propulsion for Unique Workboat Applications

Customized application for multi-missioned workboats recognizes that all workboats have more than one job. In an increasingly expensive market for workboats, any advantage that can be leveraged to save time, money, fuel and deck space on the job is a precious commodity. One way to do just that, perhaps taking a page from the U.S. Coast Guard’s playbook, is to consolidate multiple missions onto fewer vessels. And, the gold standard in equipment to make that happen may well be packaged in NAMJet’s advanced marine propulsion systems. For more than 25 years, NAMJet products have provided thrust, durability, and speed for a wide variety of commercial, military and workboat applications.

18 Dec 2012

New Seismic Survey Boat: NAMJet Waterjet Propelled

Seismic Survey Boat WP 950: Photo credit Westplast AS

Norwegian shipbuilder Westplast AS chooses US-based NAMJet propulsion for its latest seismic survey vessel WP950. Designed as a global support platform for oil and gas industry seismographic research, the WP950 will also be used for streamer cable replacements. The boat is powered by twin 295-horsepower (hp) Yanmar diesels paired to twin TRAKTOR® Jet TJ 381 (15-inch) waterjets capable of propelling the 31-foot, 15,653-pound (7100 kg) craft to top speeds of 28 knots. The vessel's TRAKTOR Jet propulsion system also provides 6,393 pounds (2900 kg) of Bollard Pull.