Rubber Fendering News

Push boat operator Plimsoll Marine announced it has taken delivery of the fourth vessel in a series of newbuilds from Master Marine, Inc. “Plimsoll Marine strives to provide the Lower Mississippi River with premier push boat services utilizing the industry’s most modern and capable fleet of vessels. The delivery of the Steel Skipper marks another milestone in that effort,” said Angus R. Cooper III, President, Cooper/T. Smith. “Our ongoing investment in building and maintaining…

In December 2021 Blakeley BoatWorks completed construction of Green Wave, a fully compliant, state-of-the-art Subchapter M inland push boat. Owned by Plimsoll Marine, the vessel will operate within the Cooper Consolidated fleeting footprint, the largest fleeting footprint on the Lower Mississippi River. All three companies are part of the Cooper Group of Companies.Designed by Farrell and Norton and built by Blakeley BoatWorks over the course of a year, the 70-foot long, 28-foot wide, 1,600 horsepower vessel is fully compliant with the latest U.S.

The U.S.’ first linehaul towing vessel powered by Tier 4 Caterpillar high-speed engines with selective catalytic reduction( SCR) was built by Blakeley BoatWorks (BBW) and is now operated by Cooper Marine and Timberlands (CMT).In March 2021, Blakeley BoatWorks completed construction of M/V Gretchen V. Cooper, a state-of-the-art, Tier-4 inland linehaul tow boat. This 3,400-horsepower vessel is 110-feet long, 33-feet wide, and expands CMT’s fleet to 20 vessels.Currently, Tier-4 diesel engine standards are the strictest U.S.

Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipbuilder Master Marine, Inc. (MMI) has delivered the 67’ x 28’ pushboat Rock Solid to Plimsoll Marine. The Rock Solid is the third of four vessels that MMI is scheduled to deliver to the Lower Mississippi River push boat operator.“The delivery of the Rock Solid marks another milestone in our effort to build and maintain our industry’s most modern and capable fleet of push boats,” said Angus R. Cooper III, President, Cooper/T. Smith. “Our team prides itself…

Port Angeles, Wash. boatbuilder Armstrong Marine USA said it recently delivered the 45’8” by 16’ semi-displacement catamaran, Serac, to the National Park Service (NPS) for use in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, in Alaska.NPS selected Armstrong Marine’s proposal to build the Jutson Marine design in a competitive solicitation process last year. The vessel will be utilized for crew/cargo transfer and pilot operations in the park.The shaft and wheel propulsion system is comprised of twin John Deere 200-horsepower diesel engines…

Master Marine, Inc. (MMI) has delivered the 67- by 28-foot Iron Lady, the first of four new push boats it is building for Lower Mississippi River operator Plimsoll Marine.The four vessels are designed by Entech Designs, LLC. and are fully compliant with all U.S. Coast Guard regulatory requirements.Towboat Iron Lady is powered by two Laborde Products, Inc. Mitsubishi 803 HP Tier III diesel marine engines operating at 1,400 RPM and coupled to Twin Disc 5321 gears. Laborde Products…

Master Marine, Inc. has delivered a second towboat for Osage Marine Services, Inc. The newly built M/V Frank Mellor, like its sister ship, is a 67’ x 28’ vessel designed by Entech Designs, LLC. All USCG certificates for their Sub M compliance have been obtained.The towboat is powered by a pair of Laborde Products, S6R2-Y3MPTAW Mitsubishi 803 HP Tier III diesel marine engines to be operated at 1,400 RPM coupled to Twin Disc 5321 gears. Laborde Products, Inc. is also providing electrical power with two Northern Lights M65C13.2S 65KW Tier III electronic controlled generators with RW Fernstrum…

A new monohull dive compliance vessel Salish Scout was recently accepted by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) after successful launch and sea trials in Port Angeles Harbor.In a competitive solicitation process last year, DNR selected Armstrong Marine’s proposal to design and build multiple vessels for their Marine Law Enforcement program. Salish Scout is a sister ship to the vessel Sentry, completed earlier this summer.Salish Scout is customized for efficient geoduck fishery management along with other marine law enforcement operations. A 4’ dive platform, tank racks, aft deck shower, and custom dive ladder serve DNR divers monitoring geoduck stock and habitat.“As the manager of 2.6 million acres of aquatic lands…

The 38 x 13-ft. monohull dive compliance vessel Sentry was recently accepted by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) after successful launch and sea trials in Port Angeles Harbor. In a competitive solicitation process last year, DNR selected Armstrong Marine’s proposal to design and build multiple vessels for their Marine Law Enforcement program.Sentry is customized for efficient geoduck fishery management along with other marine law enforcement operations. A 4-ft.

Master Marine announced that it has delivered the Entech Designs 67’ x 28’ M/V Rick Pemberton to Waterfront Services.The boat is powered by a pair of Laborde Products, Inc. S6R2-Y3MPTAW Mitsubishi 803 HP tier III diesel marine engines to be operated at 1400 RPM coupled to Twin Disc MG 5321, 5:1 gears, E300 electronic controls with RW Fernstrum, Inc. keel coolers. Laborde Products, Inc. also provided electrical power with (2) Two Northern Lights M65C13.2S 65KW Tier III electronic controlled generators with RW Fernstrum, Inc. keel coolers. A pair of Sound Propeller Services, Inc.

Master Marine, Inc. has signed Six (6) towboats and has laid the keels for the first two vessels. All Six (6) vessels will be 67’ x 28’ Entech Designs, LLC Sub. M compliant towboats. The first two will be working for Osage Marine Services, Inc., St. Louis, MO. with the rest operating in the lower Mississippi River system for an undisclosed customer. We are very happy to be teaming up with these companies to provide them and their customers the latest towboats and equipment available along with meeting Subchapter M requirements. The first two vessels will be delivered and placed into service, by the summer of 2019 with the additional Four (4) vessels to follow in close succession.Each boat will be powered by a pair of Laborde Products…

Alabama shipbuilder Master Marine has delivered Sam P. Hise, the third towboat in a series of four newbuilds for Illinois-based inland operator Waterfront Services Co.The 67’ x 28’ boat is set up with 10,400 gallons of fuel, 4,359 gallons of potable water and 9,500 gallons of ballast water along with providing a maximum 7’ 9” working draft.Each vessel will be powered by a pair of Laborde Products, Inc. S6R2-Y3MPTAW Mitsubishi 803 HP tier III diesel marine engines to be operated at 1,400 RPM coupled to Twin Disc MG 5321, 5:1 gears, E300 electronic controls with RW Fernstrum, Inc. keel coolers.

Alabama shipbuilder Master Marine said it has delivered the newly built M/V Tom Torretti to Waterfront Services Co. The 67’ x 28’ fleet boat is powered by a pair of Laborde Products, Inc. S6R2-Y3MPTAW Mitsubishi 803 HP tier III diesel marine engines to be operated at 1,400 RPM coupled to Twin Disc MG 5321, 5:1 gears, E300 electronic controls with RW Fernstrum, Inc. keel coolers. Electrical power was also provided by Laborde Products, Inc. with two Northern Lights M65C13.2S 65KW Tier III electronic controlled generators with RW Fernstrum, Inc. keel coolers.

The U.S. Navy has some spectacular vessels, from submarines to high speed RIBs. They also have dedicated ports and support facilities worldwide. A practical reality of all of this is that the Navy requires efficient and handy boats to support the warhorses. To meet this requirement John Myers of the naval architect firm Hockema & Whalen and Associates have developed a 30 by 15-foot tug with a 5.5-foot draft. Currently the Navy has 24 of these tugs, designated Work Boat Medium, on order from Modutech Marine Inc. of Tacoma, Wash.

Master Marine has delivered the first of four 67’ x 28’ fleet boats to Waterfront Services Co. Each boat will be powered by a pair of Laborde Products, Inc. S6R2-Y3MPTAW Mitsubishi 803 HP tier III diesel marine engines to be operated at 1,400 RPM coupled to Twin Disc MG 5321, 5:1 gears, E300 electronic controls with RW Fernstrum, Inc. keel coolers. Electrical power was also provided by Laborde Products, Inc. with two Northern Lights M65C13.2S 65KW Tier III electronic controlled generators with RW Fernstrum, Inc. keel coolers. A pair of Sound Propeller Services, Inc.

Kvichak Marine delivered two all-aluminum 36.6’ crew/pilot boats to West Coast Launch, Ltd. (WCL), which operates year-round as a water transportation company in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada. The new vessels, Lelu and Kitson, will join the five vessels already operating in the West Coast Launch fleet, as the company prepares for the growth of Prince Rupert and the demands for transportation with the LNG industry. Lelu and Kitson are powered by twin Volvo D11 diesel engines rated for 510 bhp and ZF 205 marine gears. The engines are coupled to Hamilton 322 waterjets providing a speed of 35 knots.

Kvichak Marine delivered two all-aluminum 36.6’ Crew / Pilot Boats to Tymac Launch Service, Ltd. of British Columbia, Canada. The vessels were designed by Kvichak for the specific use of transporting 12 or fewer passengers for BC coast pilots, government officials, ships agents and surveyors, longshoremen, repair crews etc. The areas of operations include Vancouver Harbor, Indian Arm, Howe Sound, the Fraser River and Southern Gulf of Georgia Strait. Powered by twin John Deere 6090SFM85 diesel engines rated for 425 bhp and ZF 305-3 marine gears.

Kvichak Marine Industries recently delivered two (2) 38’ Anchor Handling utility vessels to Superior Energy Services out of Houston, TX. The all-aluminum vessels are hard-chined monohulls designed by Kvichak in conjunction with Superior and fitted with a forward skeg along with forward and aft push knees, heated decks and windows, then rounded out with subsea navigation equipment plus a subsea winch. Bear Cub I and Bear Cub II are powered by twin Cummins QSB engines rated for 305 bhp each with ZF 305-2 transmissions and propelled by 4 bladed stainless steel props enclosed in nozzles.

Incat Crowther announced the launch of a 91.8 ft Utility Catamaran at Richardson Devine Marine in Tasmania. Built for Carpentaria Contracting, Strait Shooter is an evolution of Limitless, launched in 2009, which has been a great success for its operator. Strait Shooter builds on the design features of Limitless, and adds some more features specifically developed for Carpentaria Contracting. The greatest change has been to implement a large propeller tunnel to reduce the draft of the vessel.

Moss Landing Harbor District took delivery of this Packcat 24, from William E. Munson Company, in October. Designed as a multi-purpose utility/patrol/fire/rescue boat, it is powered by twin 115 hp Honda Four-Stroke outboards providing a 40 mph top speed and 26 mph cruise burning under 10 gph. An 18 hp Vanguard Series fire pump provides 125 gpm at 100 psi fire fighting capability. The Packcat's standard 643 in. wide bow door allows for easy loading of personnel, materials and equipment from docks or ramps as well as more effortless floating debris cleanup and in-water rescue. Additional outfitting includes an open-backed cabin, dual action leaning post/seat, twin outboard hydraulic transom jacks with six in. of vertical travel, three in.

The U.S. Coast Guard uses four small steel barges specifically engineered to provide a safe working platform and reduction in pollutants from painting operations during routine maintenance of Coast Guard Cutters. Gone are the days of the staging or boson chair rigged over the side with a crew member wielding chipping iron and paint roller. The U.S. Coast Guard identified the need for an improved system to prevent paint chip and spatter from entering the environment, and after considerable research it was decided to design and construct a steel pilot model Paint Float to provide a safe working platform to conduct topside maintenance. The original float measures 30 x 12 ft. (9 x 3.7 m), with draft of just 1.5 ft. (.5 m) and displacement of 32,000-lbs.

Captain Jack Davies is the consummate boatman. Davies wears a number of “hats” in the marine industry, and often he is aboard one of the tugs with which he has some ownership involvement. He can be found twisting wrenches in the engine room, working on deck, or in command on the bridge. Lately he has been overseeing the construction of his latest tug. The new McIlwain-designed Azimuthing Stern Drive (ASD) tug will be 64.75-feet in length, with a 27-foot beam. Of the relatively large beam for the length, Davies explains, “Adding beam is a way to improve the stability.

Over the last six years, Chuck's Boat and Drive of Longview, Washington has delivered almost 40 small tugs to the U.S. Navy. They range in size from 19 to 40 ft, are powered by single and twin Cummins engines, and are designed to fulfill missions that include many in-port duties, including moving heavy security booms and docking naval vessels. These hard-working craft have are based on the durable steel hulls that the company has delivered to commercial operators in the logging business for over 40 years.