Ride Control System News

Key West, Fla.-based Yankee Freedom has ordered a new 300-passenger, high-speed catamaran from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation for passenger service between Key West and the Dry Tortugas National Park. The new vessel will replace Yankee Freedom III, a 250-passenger catamaran built for the 70-mile run by the Mass.-based shipyard in 2012. Delivery of Yankee Freedom IV is planned for 2026.The new larger vessel, designed by Incat Crowther, retains the strong brand presence Yankee Freedom has established with tourists to the national park, said company officials.

Shipbuilder Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) said it has delivered the second of two 255-passenger-only ferries to Kitsap Transit of Bremerton, Wash. Like the first-in-class-vessel the Enetai, the Commander outperformed design expectations during vessel trials, delivering to Kitsap Transit a lighter, faster, and smoother riding vessel, the builder said. Kitsap Transit awarded a design and construction contract to Nichols Brothers Boat Builders for two new ferries in December 2018.

Shipbuilder Metal Shark has delivered two of three new welded-aluminum “50 Defiant” monohull pilothouse fireboats to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR).Designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team and built to Lloyds Registry Standard, the welded-aluminum monohull pilothouse fireboats “FB-21” and “FB-73” were acquired to boost MDFR’s maritime firefighting capability and will replace existing vessels in its fleet.Compared to MDFR’s outgoing vessels, the new 55’ x 17.5’ Metal Shark fireboats offer faster speeds enabling shorter response times…

Incat Tasmania’s 100m ship destined for Trinidad and Tobago was floated out from Incat’s drydock on Hobart’s Derwent River on October 9, and will remain alongside the shipyard wharf for machinery commissioning during October. Powered by four MAN 7280-kW,l 16V 28/33 STC marine diesel engines driving Wartsila WXJ 1200 SRI waterjets via ZF 53500NR2H gearboxes, Buccoo Reef is designed to achieve a top speed of more than 40 knots.Australian shipbuilder Incat commenced construction of Buccoo Reef early 2019…

A new 36-meter service accommodation transfer vessel (SATV) completed its sea trials program for owner Ventus Marine and charterer Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and has commenced operations and maintenance activities on the Formosa 1 offshore wind farm project in Taiwan.The first-of-its-kind vessel was designed by BMT and built by Penguin Shipyard International. It is engineered to provide long-term offshore accommodation for 10 crew onboard for the 12 day offshore endurance, while still being able to push up against the turbine to transfer technicians.

Incat delivered its latest large fast ferry, a 110-meter catamaran for Virtu Ferries of Malta dubbed Saint John Paul II.Saint John Paul II is the 44th large commercial fast ferry delivered by Incat and the sixth in excess of 5,500gt in the past decade; a decade also shared with 19 other Incat newbuilds of smaller passenger ferries and support vessels.“Using the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and hydrodynamic free-running model test techniques, the well proven Incat Wave Piercing Catamaran hullform has been further developed for Mediterranean winter conditions…

Louisiana shipbuilder Gulf Craft has delivered the third vessel in a series of new class monohull fast support vessels (FSV) for SEACOR Marine.According to designer Incat Crowther, the vessel Libby L. McCall advances the traditional offshore support vessel model and offers a more cost efficient, comfortable, flexible, and safe option to helicopter transportation.The vessel features redundancy to mitigate against down time or loss of functionality due to mechanical complications.

Ship repairer and marine engineering services provider SMS said it has completed its second major high-speed craft refit in France.SMS, which is based in Southampton in the U.K., has undocked Brittany Ferries’ Normandie Express in Cherbourg on the Ports of Normandy Authority’s (PNA) ship lift. Over a three-week period, SMS undertook the docking on the Rolls-Royce syncrolift in the Port of Cherbourg. The lift is 90m x 32m and offers a 3,000T lift capacity.Located just 75 miles from the Solent…

Damen Shipyards Group has carried out tank testing of its 70-metre Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 7011. The tests were carried out at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) with a 2.8-metre long model.Intended for long distance crew transfer operations, the Damen FCS 7011 will offer the offshore oil & gas industry a safe and cost-effective alternative to helicopter flights.In developing the FCS 7011, on-board comfort has been one of Damen’s central design parameters. Consequently, the company has executed a large number of simulations to investigate seakeeping characteristics.“We have used these simulations to see which hull form gives the optimum comfort levels,” explains Albert Rijkens, Damen Product Portfolio Manager Research.

Compagnie Maritime Monégasque (CMM) and Damen Shipyards Group (Damen) have joined forces to introduce a fast, safe and reliable Fast Marine Access crew change solution for the Brazilian market using a Damen FCS 7011. The solution looks to transfer personnel between shore and the ever more distant deep sea offshore platforms and flotels. The FCS 7011 focuses on increased safety, cost reduction and comfort, while offering a high speed solution to complement existing helicopter transfers.

As an extension of its existing relationship with Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards, Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark has announced the availability of the new Damen FCS 7011 for the U.S. market. Developed by Damen in response to feedback from leaders in the offshore oil and gas sector, the FCS 7011 has been designed to reduce logistical cost and increase efficiencies in an era of low oil prices. The all-aluminum monohull FCS 7011 is a fast and comfortable crew supply solution for offshore production facilities. The vessel offers increased safety compared to traditional crew supply vessels. Incorporating Damen’s “Sea Axe” bow and a ride control system for roll and pitch reduction, the FCS 7011 offers increased operability in offshore sea states.

A new 30-meter aluminum passenger ferry Isle of la Digue built by Richardson Devine Marine is the latest vessel designed by Incat Crowther for the Seychelles operator Inter Island Express. The catamaran newbuild, which required a very shallow draft to afford access to the operator’s confined harbor berth, is the first to feature Incat Crowther’s new generation propeller tunnel to reduce propeller draft and offer a flat transom which can integrate with standard fixed or active interceptor systems, the designer said.

Britain’s largest independent ship repairer and marine engineering services provider Burgess Marine said it has recently completed its winter refit season in Cherbourg, completing three ferry refit projects over the three-month time span. Despite Brexit, Burgess Marine said business has boomed as the company has completed two refits for Wightlink and one for Condor Ferries at its 5,000T syncrolift facility in the French port. He added, “We have the technical management, knowledge…

Incat Crowther has designed a new catamaran ferry for Cat Cocos of the Seychelles. To be built by Richardson Devine Marine, the 292-passenger, 30m vessel will capitalize on the experience of the operation of the Incat Crowther-designed Isle of Praslin (delivered 2006) and Isle of La Digue (delivered 2009). These vessels have proven to be reliable, robust and efficient through years of operation, and the new vessel is designed to take those characteristics a step further. The vessel will feature a shallow draft, including the use of an efficient propeller tunnel to afford access to the operation’s confined harbour berth. Propulsion is via Cummins main engines, running at modest engine speeds, which will combine with hulls optimized by CFD to deliver low fuel burn.

Built Built by Austal Ships, Rashid Behbudov, sistership to the Muslim Magomeyev and the second Incat Crowther 70m Catamaran Fast Crew Boat, has been delivered for Caspian Marine Services. Muslim Magomayev, the first of this design developed by Incat Crowther, was built by Incat Tasmania and delivered to CMS in 2014. Both Muslim Magomayev and Rashid Behbedov are engineered for the Ampelmann walk-to-work system, which transfers crew to offshore platforms in day-to-day operation as well as in emergency situations.

Hy-Line Cruises, a division of Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc., Hyannis, Mass., has taken delivery of Grey Lady IV, a new 493-passenger, high-speed catamaran from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, the Duclos Corporation. The fourth Incat-Crowther fast ferry built by the Mass.-based shipyard for the Cape Cod passenger ferry company is larger and more stylish in design than previous vessels. The new ferry will provide year-round passenger service between Hyannis and Nantucket Island. The new…

Construction is underway for the second 70m Catamaran crew boat sister ship to the Muslim Magomayev, designed by Incat Crowther. Muslim Magomayev is a first-of-type vessel which Incat Crowther developed in close conjunction with Caspian Marine Services (CMS). Incat Crowther has undertaken extensive support work in the field, including involvement in engineering for the fitting of an Ampellmann walk-to-work stabilized access platform, making it the first catamaran to have such a system and its structure fully integrated into its design. The operational success of the vessel has led CMS to order a second unit, with construction having well advanced at Austal Ships’ Western Australian shipyard.

Incat Crowther announced the delivery of Najla McCall, the second vessel in SEACOR Marine’s Express Plus class of Fast Support Vessels (FSV). Sistership to the Alya McCall launched in November last year, Najla McCall has seating capacity for 100 personnel and achieved an operational speed in excess of 38 knots during recent trials. This performance is remarkable for a large vessel of this type and is enabled by a quintet of Cummins QSK 60, EPA Tier 3 compliant diesel engines, each producing 2,680 bhp, the designer said. The engines are coupled to Twin Disc MGX 61500 SC reverse reduction gearboxes driving Hamilton HT-810 water jets through a shafting system by Driveline Service of Portland.

Hy-Line Cruises, a division of Hyannis Harbor Tours, Inc., Hyannis, Mass., has ordered a new 493-passenger, high-speed catamaran from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, the Duclos Corporation. The fourth Incat-Crowther fast ferry built by the Mass.-based shipyard for the Cape Cod passenger ferry company is larger and more stylish in design than previous vessels. The new ferry will provide year-round passenger service between Hyannis and Nantucket Island. Delivery is scheduled for 2016. The new, all-aluminum ferry is about 153.5 feet (46.8 m) long, 34.5 feet (10.5 m) at the beam, and draws approximately 8 feet (2.5 m), loaded. The vessel will be powered by four Cummins QSK60-M, EPA Tier 3 diesel engines, each delivering 2200 Bhp at 1800 rpm.

The latest delivery from Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania Akane, an 85 metre high speed Wave Piercing Catamaran Ferry, Incat hull 068, will arrive in Japan early April. Built at the Incat shipyard at Prince of Wales Bay, Hobart the vessel was sea trialled late   March, and has departed Hobart on her delivery voyage. The vessel will go into service in April with Sado Kisen, a long standing ferry operator in Japan. Akane will operate from the Niigata and Naoetsu ports on the west coast of Japan to the Sado Island ports of Ogi and Ryotsu.

Incat Crowther announced a first of type 70m Catamaran Fast Crew Boat (FCB), compliant with IMO HSC code and complete with a crew transfer system consisting of dynamic positioning equipment class (DP2) coupled with a stabilized access platform. Construction of the vessel has commenced at the shipbuilder Incat Tasmania, with delivery scheduled for September 2014. The vessel will operate as a fast crew transfer vessel for 150 offshore workers to multiple offshore installations.

Incat Crowther announced the launch and sea trials of Muslim Magomayev, a first-of-type 70m Catamaran Fast Crew Boat (FCB). Constructed by Incat Tasmania, Muslim Magomayev is compliant with IMO HSC code and complete with a crew transfer system consisting of dynamic positioning equipment class (DP2) coupled with a walk-to-work stabilized access platform. The vessel’s operation includes fast crew transfer for 150 offshore workers to multiple offshore installations. The hull design is optimized for high speed transits with a maximized operability envelope and low incidences of sea sickness.

The delivery of Alya McCall is significant in that it is the first vessel in a fleet of new class monohull Fast Support Vessels (FSV) for SEACOR Marine. Alya McCall is the first vessel in the SEACOR Express Plus class and features striking lines not ordinarily found in traditional monohull FSV designs. Gulf Craft in Franklin, La. built the 206 x 43 x 9.25 ft. vessel. Alya McCall features seating capacity for 100 personnel and has a top speed of 38 knots. The performance is enabled by five Cummins QSK 60, EPA Tier 3 compliant diesel engines, each producing 2680 bhp.