Gladding-Hearn Refits Boston Pilots Vessel
Somerset, Mass. shipyard Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, announced it has delivered the first of the Boston Pilotsâ two Chesapeake-class pilot boats undergoing a comprehensive refit.âThe vessels are well used and well maintained. Only minor structural repairs were necessary so definitely worthy of refitting,â said Peter Duclos, the shipyardâs co-president.Along with installing new shafts and Brunton propellers, the 53â all-aluminum pilot boatâs twin 600 hp Lugger L6140AL2 engines were replaced with a pair of Volvo Penta D-16 diesel enginesâŚ
Mack Boring Promotes Ponnwitz to Lead New Sustainable Energy Division
Somerset, N.J. based Mack Boring & Parts Co. has promoted Christopher Ponnwitz to the role of Chief Commercial Officer of Mack Sustainable Energy, a new division for the company.âI am very happy to announce that Chris has moved into this new role, where he will be leading our efforts to further expand and grow the electric marine market, particularly with the ePropulsion product line,â said Patrick McGovern, President and CEO of Mack Boring. âChris has been an exemplary leader for our company, and heâs a fast learner who has been working relentlessly to promote electric propulsion.
Alabama Pilots Receive New Launch from Gladding-Hearn
The Alabama Pilot, Inc. in Mobile, Ala., has taken delivery of its second Chesapeake Class high-speed pilot boat, Mobile Pilot, from Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. Delivery of its first Chesapeake launch, Dixey, was in 2017.With a length overall of 53.6â, a beam of 17.8â, and a draft of 4.6â, the new all-aluminum pilot boat, features the Ray Hunt Design deep-V hull. It is powered by twin Caterpillar C-18 diesel engines, each delivering 671Bhp at 2100 rpm and a top speed of 27 knots.
Gladding-Hearn Delivers New Pilot Boat to Bermuda
Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has delivered a Chesapeake Class pilot boat to the Bermuda Government, Department of Marine and Port Services. It follows delivery of a 61â pilot/rescue vessel to the port services in 2011.The new all-aluminum launch is certified to Lloydâs Register class and replaces a 10-knot steel pilot boat built by the Somerset, Mass. shipyard in 1980. With a deep-V hull designed by Ray Hunt Design, the new boat measures 52.11â overall, with a 15.10â beam and a 4.8â draft.
Lake Charles Pilots Orders Launch from Gladding-Hearn
With three Gladding-Hearn pilot boats already in their fleet, the Louisiana-based Lake Charles pilots have ordered another launch from the Somerset, Mass., shipyard.Based on the Cameron Pilot II delivered in 2019, the new all-aluminum pilot boat features the Deep V hull by Ray Hunt Design and has an overall length of 73â, beam of 23â, and draft of 5.3â. It will be powered by twin Cummins QSK38-M1, EPA Tier 4-certified diesel engines, each delivering 1,300 Bhp at 1,800 rpm and a top speed of over 27 knots.
Bidding Opens to Build Electric Ferry for Service to Guemes Island
Washington's Skagit County is inviting U.S. shipyards to bid for a contract to construct a new allâelectric car and passenger ferry.In 2017, Skagit County Public Works enlisted Glosten to design an environmentally friendly allâelectric replacement for the dieselâpowered ferry Guemes, which has serviced the half-mile route between Anacortes and Guemes Island since 1979.After some funding-related delays, the county approved the Seattle-based naval architecture firm's preliminary design in 2021âŚ
Offshore Wind: US Shipbuilders Answering the Call
Itâs a big deal when a U.S. president visits an American shipyard, and these trips always send a message. When President Obama spoke at HIIâs Newport News Shipbuilding in 2013, he warned of the consequences of sequestration. President Trumpâs 2020 speech at Fincantieri Marinette Marine touted a $5.5 billion naval contract that gave a welcome boost to the Wisconsin shipyard and its supply chain partners. Most recently, President Biden traveled to Philadelphiaâs Philly ShipyardâŚ
Blue Ocean Transfers: A New Jones Act CTV Player Emerges
There's a new player in the Jones Act crew transfer vessel (CTV) market: Blue Ocean Transfers (BOT), based on Long Island, N.Y.The McQuilling-Partners-owned company is planning to build a fleet of CTVs to support the U.S. offshore wind industry as it ramps up to meet the Biden administration's goal of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030. "BOT is a marine logistics equipment manager, whose equipment is chartered and deployed by wind field developers and their suppliers," the company said in a statement.
Mack Boring Names Henkin COO
Jonathan (Jon) Henkin has been promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer for Mack Boring & Parts Co. Most recently Henkin was Director of Operations since 2010, and has led the integration of lean manufacturing principles into our operations, implemented his second ERP upgrade in 2020, planned and led a facility move from Union, NJ to Somerset, NJ and has been instrumental in the many systems Mack Boring has developed internally to manage its 400+ dealers and eight major product lines.Henkin joined Mack Boring in 1999âŚ
Gladding-Hearn Delivers Refitted Launch to Tampa Bay Pilots
The Tampa Bay pilot association has taken delivery of Tampa, a newly refitted Chesapeake Class pilot boat built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in 2003, when the Somerset, Mass. shipyard introduced the class of mid-size, high-speed launches. In 2015, the Tampa pilots also took delivery of the shipyardâs first Chesapeake Class MKII, which incorporates the performance benefits of Volvo Pentaâs IPS 2 pod system. âAfter 19 years of hard work, the vessel was showing some wear and tear but she still had a lot of life left so it was definitely worth re-investing inâŚ
St Johns Bar Pilots Order New Launch from Gladding-Hearn
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-2024âthe pilotsâ 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.
2023 Shipbuilding Report: US Passenger Vessels
With travel and tourism nearing pre-2020 levels, and transit systems benefiting from a return to work, passenger vessels have seen renewed activity. In its year-end review, John Groundwater, Executive Director of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), which advocates for the sector in Washington, D.C. wrote: âAs we are nearing the end of the calendar year, we are delighted to report that our industry, and our members, are reporting far and wide that they have experienced veryâŚ
Frontiers Extend as Developers Eye Floating Wind Potential
America may have only entered the offshore wind sector recently, but it is wasting no time in playing catch-up. The White House has set targets of 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 110 GW by 2050. The focus so far has centred on bottom-fixed installations, but the prospect of higher energy yields in deeper waters where the wind blows stronger and longer now beckon. The White House has also set a floating wind deployment target of 15 GW by 2035.From a standing start, there are immense challenges in Americaâs offshore wind development.
Mark Heward Named Director at MITAGS
The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) announced that Mark Heward has joined its team as Director. Heward came aboard with MITAGS in October 2022, after retiring from a 22-year active service career in the Royal Navy.âWe are thrilled to welcome Mark Heward aboard as the Director of MITAGS. Markâs underway time, leadership, management and training experience together with being fully STCW qualified and his continuing education experience are a rare combination,â said Eric Friend, MITAGS Executive Director.
Gladding-Hearn Refitting Ferry for Government of Bermuda
The Government of Bermudaâs Marine and Port Services has chosen Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, to undertake a major refit of the 700-passenger ferry Bermudian. Built in 1988, the 118â steel vessel completed the 635-mile crossing of the North Atlantic, arriving at the Somerset, Mass. shipyard, this week. With engineering and project management by Gladding-Hearn and Propulsion Data Services, and Class oversight by Lloydâs Register, the refit is scheduled for completion in mid-2023.Among the myriad items to be removedâŚ
Navy Veteran Joins MITAGS as Director
The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) said Friday that Mark Heward had joined as Director of MITAGS.Heward came aboard with MITAGS in October 2022, after retiring from a 22-year active service career in the Royal Navy.Eric Friend, MITAGS Executive Director, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Heward Heward aboard as the Director of MITAGS. Markâs underway time, leadership, management, and training experience, together with being fully STCW qualifiedâŚ
Delaware Pilots Order New Launch from Gladding-Hearn
Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation informs it has secured another pilot boat order from the Pilotsâ Association of the Bay and River Delaware. The vessel will be the pilotsâ associationâs fourth Chesapeake Class launch and 11th pilot boat built by Gladding-Hearn since 1957. Delivery of the new pilot boat is scheduled for 2024.With a deep-V hull designed by Ray Hunt Design, the new all-aluminum launch measures 53.6â overall, with a 17.8â beam and a 4.9â draft.
Mayflower Wind Names Slingsby CEO
U.S. offshore wind developer Mayflower Wind announced Francis Slingsby has assumed the role of chief executive officer, succeeding Michael Brown who will join the company's board of directors.âI am delighted to join Mayflower Wind as we continue to accelerate the transformation to a cleaner energy future,â said Slingsby, who brings over a decade of experience in commercial and business development in the U.S. offshore wind energy sector. âMayflower Wind has successfully built a leadership position in the offshore wind marketâŚ
U.S. President Biden Visits Prysmian's Subsea Cable Plant Site in Brayton Point, Mass.
Prysmian Group, the energy and telecom cable systems provider, on Wednesday welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden on a visit to the site of its new subsea power cables plant in Brayton Point, Massachusetts. Prysmian said it was set to transform the area, home to the former Somerset coal plant, into a high-tech hub for the energy transition process.The Brayton Point factory will manufacture subsea inter-array and export cables up to 275 kV AC or 525 kV DC, that are needed to connect offshore wind farms to mainland power grids.
Cable Installation Kicks Off at U.S. First Commercial Scale Offshore Wind Farm
Cable installation has kicked off at Vineyard Wind, the U.S. first commercial scale offshore wind farm, at a site located 15 miles south of Marthaâs Vineyard. Vineyard Wind, the company developing the namesake wind farm, also announced that it expects to begin nearshore cable work off the south coast of Cape Cod in the coming days. The work is being conducted by Prysmian Group, the subsea cable manufacturing and installation firm based in Italy.Prysmian recently announced plans to build the first U.S.-based offshore wind subsea cable factory in SomersetâŚ
MARAD Awards $19.6 Million in Small Shipyard Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportationâs Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grant awards to 24 small shipyards in 19 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program.The funds will help awardeesâmany of which being family-run businessesâmodernize, increase productivity and expand local employment opportunities while competing in the global marketplace, MARAD said.âSmall businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy, and small shipyards play a critical role in Americaâs maritime industry, helping us get the goods we depend on every day,â said U.S.
Scania to Power Patriot's New CTV
Engine manufacturer Scania announced it has been selected by Patriot Offshore Maritime Services to power its new 27-meter aluminum crew transfer vessel (CTV), chartered by Vineyard Wind for support of the construction and management of its commercial offshore wind project. The CTV will be built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Mass. for mid-2023 delivery. Based on an Incat Crowther catamaran design, it will be capable of carrying up to 24 technicians and personnel.
Babcock Begins First Type 23 Post-LIFEX Upkeep
Defense company Babcock International has started a post-life extension (LIFEX) on the U.K. Royal Navyâs Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll at Babcock Devonportâs facility. It is the first Type 23 to begin their post-LIFEX upkeep, adopting a new innovative approach to recertification at the Frigate Support Centre (FSC).Babcock will be overhauling key equipment and carrying out design changes for new capabilities such as communications upgrades and mixed crewing. The Duke Class frigate will also receive a full spray coat on the outer bottom and ship side.Sarah HilderâŚ