Travis Short News

Metal Shark announced it has secured a contract to build three 120’ x 35’ river towboats for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT), signalling the U.S. shipbuilder’s entry into the towboat market.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboats were designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc. and will be powered by twin Cat 3512C Tier 3 marine diesel engines rated at 1,911 HP each. Construction is underway at Metal Shark Alabama, with deliveries commencing in 2019.With the FMT contract…

Alabama's Horizon Shipbuilding is bustling with activity. New York Fast Ferries are being quickly delivered, large AST tugs are being built and launched, and vessels of all sizes are cycling through weekly for refurbishment and refit. “Our company’s diversity allows us to manage multiple projects at one time,” said Travis Short, owner of Horizon. “We are a true full service builder. In 2009 F.E.M.A., through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, began aggressively funding state…

Innovative boats, unusual collaboration: Hornblower, Horizon, Incat Crowther and Metal Shark team up on one of the most significant newbuilding projects of the year. When New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier this year announced the selection of Hornblower to operate as many as 20 ferries to connect a similar number of New York City neighborhoods, the magnitude of the award immediately outweighed the details of the contract. The vessels, intended to eventually form the backbone of a modern, comfortable and efficient urban ferry fleet, will also be New York City’s first city-wide ferry system in over 100 years. Now on track to launch in 2017, the news service is predicated on the on-time delivery of high tech, newbuild hulls now being constructed on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. of Bayou La Batre, Alabama has delivered the M/V A.B. York, a 120’ towboat, to its longtime customer Florida Marine Transporters (FMT).This is the nineteenth vessel delivered to FMT by Horizon and the ninth 120’ towboat. Travis Short, President of Horizon Shipbuilding, stated, “After the delivery of the A.B. York this brings the total horsepower delivered to FMT by Horizon to nearly 100,000 and counting! It is hard to grasp that nearly a decade has passed. Horizon appreciates the privilege to have been given the honor to build incredible boats for a truly incredible company. The M/V A.B. York, designed by John Gilbert…

Officials from Hornblower and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) toured the Horizon Shipyard facility Wednesday morning and received an update on construction, which is on schedule, and inspected the first completed citywide ferry superstructure. Completion of the superstructure marks a significant milestone in what will become New York City’s first citywide ferry service and one of the largest commuter ferry operations in the United States. Phase 1 of Citywide Ferry will launch in summer 2017.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. is located on the Southwestern coast of Alabama, about 30 miles from Mobile. Designing, building and repairing ships, boats, and barges up to 300’ in length and 1500 tons, Horizon’s customer base includes tug and barge operators, the offshore oil industry, cruise and diving industry, and specialized craft for domestic and foreign governments. Horizon was founded in 1997 by a father-and-son team who bring more than 60 years combined experience in ship design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair.

In June 2016 Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. of Bayou La Batre, Ala. delivered the M/V Marty Cullinan, a 120’ towboat with a retractable pilot house, to its home port of New Orleans, La. This is the latest delivery of many to Florida Marine Transporters by Horizon and one of the first vessels to fully incorporate Horizon’s GORDHEAD management software. Jeff Brumfield, Sr., Manager of Boat Construction and Engineering for FMT, commented, “We are thoroughly pleased with the boat, and when I talk to the Marty Cullinan crew they are quick to note that she is smooth and very quiet. Travis Short, President of Horizon Shipbuilding, said, “We have worked hard to build one of the best boats on the river and we consider ourselves fortunate to have teamed with FMT and John J. Gilbert to do this.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has been awarded a series production contract with Hornblower to build new 149-passenger ferries for New York City’s new citywide ferry service set to begin in Summer 2017. The vessels are part of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to connect the outer boroughs with inexpensive waterborne mass transit. The first ferries delivered will serve the South Brooklyn, Astoria and Rockaway routes next summer, with additional routes serving the Lower East Side and Soundview in the Bronx in Summer 2018.

McAllister Towing continues its long, 150-plus year hisory of serving the maritime industry announcing investment in two new boats sporting the latest technology. McAllister Towingis announced that Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. of Bayou La Batre, AL, will build 100 x 40-ft. Escort/Rescue tugs for the company, vessels powered by 3516E Tier IV Caterpillar engines with Schottel SRP4000FP units producing 6,770 hp and 80 metric tons bollard pull. The tugs will be classified with ABS as Maltese Cross A-1 Towing, Escort Service, FiFi 1 and Maltese Cross AMS.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. announced that Mickey Cook has joined the corporation as the Vice President of Operations for the Bayou La Batre shipyard. Cook, one of the founders of C & G Boatworks, where he served as General Manager, brings 38 years of experience in the shipbuilding industry to his current position at Horizon. His many years of experience and relationships with others in the industry are an asset that will allow Horizon to better serve our customers and the marine industry as well as aid in the growth of Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc.

Bayou La Batre, Alabama - Horizon Shipbuilding Inc. has delivered the M/V General Irwin, an inland river towboat, to the Army Corps of Engineers in Eufala, Alabama. The General Irwin is equipped with two steering rudders and four flanking rudders, and is powered by two Caterpillar diesel engines, providing 770 horsepower to her 48-inch propellers. Her hull speed when towing is four knots; her full speed is eight knots. The vessel was christened on March 30 during a ceremony in Eufala featuring Army Corps of Engineers leadership…

Bayou La Batre, August, 2011 - Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, AL, has delivered the third in a series of 120’ Towboats to Florida Marine Transporters of Mandeville, LA. The M/V Brees joins her sister ships, M/V’s Capt. W. D. Nunley and Capt. Kirby Dupuis in pushing cargoes throughout the inland waterways of the United States. “This boat is a true workhorse,” said Ben Forrest, Project Manager for the M/V Brees. “There were some challenges that we had to overcome during production because of the larger propulsion package but our guys really stepped up.

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, Ala., has delivered the M/V Capt. Kirby Dupuis to Florida Marine Transporters of Mandeville, La. She joins her sister ship, the M/V Capt. W. D. Nunley in pushing cargoes throughout the inland waterways of the United States. The M/V Capt. Kirby Dupuis, designed by John Gilbert, is a 120 ft long by 35 ft wide, 10 ft draft, towboat vessel that is four-decked and is outfitted for service in areas restricted to overhead clearances and draft limitations.

ConAgra Inc., the second largest U.S. food manufacturer, has agreed to sell American Commercial Lines LLC (ACL) its large U.S. inland barge fleet and operations. Financial terms of the deal, which ConAgra said was part of ongoing series of strategic divestments, were not announced. ACL will acquire 930 owned and chartered barges, nine chartered towboats and one dry dock, the companies said in a joint statement. The deal includes Peavey Barge Lines, Brown Water Towing Inc. and Superior Barge Lines, Inc. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to be completed in the next 30 days, the companies said. Greg Heckman, president and CEO, ConAgra Trade Group, said, "Our decision to sell the barge company is a strategic one.