Oil Spill Response Boats News

Engine manufacturer Scania said it has been selected by the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) to power four 52-foot oil spill response landing crafts.Currently in production by family-owned Burlington, Wash welded aluminum boat manufacturer the William E. Munson Company, the vessels are powered by twin keel-cooled 750 HP Scania DI13-liter 088M engines with Twin Disc 5095 marine gearboxes, supplied by distributor Cascade Engine Center. Propulsion is provided by Hamilton 403 waterjets. This combination offers a top speed of 35 knots at full power.

Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) in the Emirate, has renamed its subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Marine Services, as ‘SAFEEN’ –meaning ships in Arabic- in a bid to rebrand itself. The announcement was followed closely by the brand winning the prestigious International Safety Management (ISM) certification from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Further, as part of expanding its fleet and improving services, SAFEEN  has added a new tug boat named ‘MAQTAA’ to its existing fleet of five tugs, five pilot boats, six  speed boats, one buoy maintenance boat and two oil spill response boats. The company plans to acquire three more tug boats by the end of 2016.

Kvichak’s Rapid Response Skimmers (RRS) are perhaps best known for their use by the U.S. Navy, but the design of these robust and well-designed units has evolved over time and today boasts placement in virtually every major spill organization. When, just this past October, Kvichak Marine won a U.S. Navy contract for 12 30-foot Rapid Response Skimmers (RRS) for delivery over the next 18 months, with options for up to 30 additional skimmers to be delivered through 2019, that wasn’t necessarily earthshaking news. That’s because the aluminum Kvichak RRS is already the Navy’s tier one response asset. The new craft will supplement the Navy’s current fleet of over 85 units in operation in Navy ports worldwide since 1994.

On June 8th, 2010, Congressman Bob Filner (San Diego, CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, will announce a plan to create a program to hire unemployed Veterans to build specially designed boats with patented technologies designed for cleaning up oil spills, for help with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster. The technology is patented by a French company, ECOCEANE, which is connected to the family of actor David Charvet. Charvet is a member of the Blue Seals Board of Directors. Also to be announced is a mission to bring the Blue Seals rapid response team of conservation experts, Charvet and his fiancee actress Brooke Burke to Louisiana to aid in the Gulf Coast Oil Spill cleanup efforts.

The Savannah-Chatham Police Marine Patrol has taken delivery of a 27-ft. Workskiff Harbor Security boat. The boat, obtained through a federal grant from the Transportation Security Administration, will be used to patrol the abundance of waterways throughout Chatham County, including security duty along the Savannah River waterfront. The Marine Patrol regularly patrols the local waterways, working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the United States Coast Guard, providing harbor enforcement and providing an extra layer of security for Savannah's busy port. Accordingly, the Marine Patrol investigates waterway and marine-related accidents and/or crimes. The unit also enforces all the safe-boating laws of the State of Georgia.

WORKSKIFF Inc. was selected by the U.S. Navy to build six oil spill response boats and two utility boats in the 19 to 25 ft. range. The boats will be used for heavy-duty commercial service to include preventative booming of ships to contain accidental fuel or oil discharges, oil spill clean-up operations, general ports and waterways duties, routine harbour maintenance and clean-up duties, as well as augmenting requirements for patrol, rescue, fire fighting and picket duties at Navy Facilities and their adjacent waterways. Selected for their rugged design and durability, WORKSKIFF boats are constructed exclusively of premium marine grade 5086 aluminium. Full-depth longitudinal girders are used in an integrated double bottom construction.

SeaArk Marine inc. of Monticello, Ark., is a company ideally positioned to benefit from the influx of patrol boat orders expected in the wake of tightening waterway security. The company is well-regarded for quality of construction and support, and has been the beneficiary of some large deals for new boats. Founded in 1959 as MonArk Boat Co., SeaArk Marine, Inc. has a long and varied history in the aluminum boat building industry. The company got its start when Zach McClendon started building riveted, aluminum flat bottom Jon boats. After a few years and several additions to the product line, the company started selling riveted and all-welded boats to entities such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Fish and Wildlife Departments.