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Us Fab News

24 Apr 2014

Brokers Marcon Conclude Ocean Deck Barge Sale

Barge HML 240-2: Photo credit Marcon International

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington says that Pacific Coast Maritime, Inc., Seattle, Washington, a subsidiary of Harley Marine Services, Seattle, has concluded the sale of its 240’ ABS ocean deck barge “HML 240-2” (ex-Aqua 242, MK-242, Foss 242) to Island Tug & Barge Co. also of Seattle. Marcon International explain that the 240’ x 60’x 16’ flat deck barge was originally built by Todd Shipyards Corp. of Houston, Texas for Foss Maritime in 1967, and acquired by Pacific Coast Maritime, Inc. in 2000 as the “Aqua 242”.

16 Apr 2014

Shipbuilding: Vigor Industrial Grows Stronger

 Frank Foti, Vigor Industrial CEO

Vigor Industrial has ballooned from a modest shipyard in Portland, Oregon, to the largest shipbuilder in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Vigor increasingly thinks big and builds big. The company’s new floating dry dock will be the largest in the United States. And Vigor wants to get even bigger. CEO and owner Frank Foti expresses an ambition to grow to twice the current size in the “next few years.” Foti, who is also chairman of the Shipbuilder’s Council of America, says he is, “striving for critical mass.

08 Oct 2013

Vigor Renames Fabrication and Alaska Operations

Vigor Alaska

Vigor Industrial announced today that it has renamed two of the company’s subsidiaries. U.S. Fab, Vigor’s fabrication and shipbuilding subsidiary, is now Vigor Fab. Alaska Ship and Drydock, which operates the Ketchikan shipyard in Alaska, is now Vigor Alaska. “It’s about better serving our customers,” explained Frank Foti, president and CEO of Vigor Industrial. •Vigor Shipyards, which provides repair, maintenance and modernization services to the U.S. The changes apply to the names only and do not alter the operating structures of either subsidiary. The new names go into effect immediately.

24 Apr 2013

U.S. Fab Deliver Unique Maintenance and Mooring Barge

Barge for King's County: Photo credit Vigor

U.S. Fab, a Vigor Industrial company, has delivered the purpose-built vessel to Washington’s King County for the use of its passenger ferry fleet. The 140’x40’x7’6” barge features moorage for up to four vessels and two steel structures, one that houses a well-equipped maintenance workshop and the other a two-story office and crew quarters. “This was an interesting project that required teams to integrate two different building classification standards while maintaining optimal cost efficiencies,” explained Bryan Nichols, Sales and Marketing Manager for Vigor Industrial.

12 Mar 2013

Washington Governor Makes Weld on State’s Second Ferry

Photo: Vigor

Washington Governor Jay Inslee officially kicked off the construction of M/V Samish, the state’s newest 144-car ferry, by making the first weld on the vessel at Vigor Industrial’s Seattle shipyard Friday. Earlier in the week US Fab, the Vigor company building the ferries, hit a major project milestone on the first vessel, the M/V Tokitae, when the company successfully transferred the 1110-ton superstructure onto the hull. Joined by state transportation officials, community leaders…

26 Feb 2013

Jensen Maritime Designs Harley Tugs & Barge

Jensen designed ASD tugboat.

Crowley Maritime subsidiary, Jensen Maritime complete design of 2 ASD tugboats & a deck cargo barge for Harley Marine. Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company Jensen Maritime recently completed the designs of two new ASD tugs, based on the popular Valor tugboat design, and a 250’ x 70’ x 15’ 8” deck barge for customer Harley Marine, a Seattle-based marine transportation provider. The tugs, named Robert Franco and Ahbra Franco, will provide tanker escort and ship assist services along the U.S. West Coast once delivered.

22 Feb 2013

Jensen Designs Two Tugs, Deck Barge for Harley

Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company, recently completed the designs of two new ASD tugs, based on the popular Valor tugboat design, and a 250’ x 70’ x 15’ 8” deck barge for customer Harley Marine, a Seattle-based marine transportation provider. The tugs, named Robert Franco and Ahbra Franco, will provide tanker escort and ship assist services along the U.S. West Coast once delivered. The barge, Iliuliuk Bay, will transport a wide variety of cargo between Dutch Harbor and Akutan, Alaska, with up to three runs per week. Jensen designed the two new industry-setting tugboats similarly to the classic Valor concept, but upgraded them with Tier 3 Cat 3516C engines and Rolls-Royce US 255 Z-drives.

23 Jan 2013

Harley Marine Awards US Fab Barge Contract

US Fab, a Vigor Industrial company, will soon begin construction on a 250’x70’x15’8” deck barge for Harley Marine Services at Vigor’s Swan Island shipyard in Portland, Oregon. This purpose built barge was designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants to transport a wide variety of cargo between Dutch Harbor and Akutan, Alaska with up to 3 runs per week. “Having the ability to collaborate with Jensen and Harley during the initial production design for this barge, will allow us to have maximum efficiency during construction,” said Bryan Nichols, Sales Manager at Vigor Industrial.

02 Jan 2013

A Boon to Shipbuilding

Having detailed instructions for each shipbuilding task and precise sequencing of the workflow is creating efficiencies and reducing rework at shipyards on the east and west coasts of the US. The work packs that Senesco Marine’s tradesmen are working from provide instructions—including checks and balances and dimensions—for each step of the process. “The person cutting the angles to go on panels has a cut sheet with instructions on how to cut every angle,” explains Joe Bush, VP Operations at Senseco Marine in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

05 Oct 2012

Vigor Sets Its Sights on Growth

Vigor Industrial is a comprehensive marine services provider specializing in shipbuilding and ship repair. Three years ago, Vigor initiated an aggressive growth strategy that consolidated major shipyard facilities in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska under one umbrella, and more than doubled the size of its business, and leading a renaissance of the marine business on the U.S. West Coast. Over the next five years, Vigor has set its sights on an expansion plan that will double the current size of the company. In early 2012, Vigor Industrial acquired Alaska Ship & Drydock (ASD).

20 Sep 2012

Nichols Brothers to Build Second WSF 144-Car Ferry

144-Car Washington State Ferry.

US Fab Contracts Nichols Brothers Boat Builders to build the second 144-Car Washington State Ferry Superstructure. At their Seattle facility, US Fab, a subsidiary company of Vigor Industrial will partner once again with Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland, Washington to build the second 144-Car Washington State Ferry. The Vessel is the second to be built in the Olympic Class for Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries division. Construction of the first vessel is currently underway at both US Fab and Nichols Brothers facilities.

25 Jul 2012

Vigor Industrial: A Rising Star in Shipbuilding in the Pacific Northwest & Alaska Arctic

Vigor Industrial’s CEO, Frank Foti (Photo courtesy Vigor Industrial)

“There is a resurgence of the marine industry in the Pacific Northwest we haven’t seen for 20 to 30 years now,” said Vince Piscitello, Vice President of Business Development for Vigor Industrial LLC. “The oil and gas industry is really new to our area,” he said, although he expects to see it grow significantly with Shell’s exploration of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas off Alaska’s northern coast. State run ferry operations in Washington and Alaska are at a point where they must renew fleets built in the 50s and 60s.

25 Apr 2012

Second 144-Car Ferry in Progress

Washington State Ferries

Construction will begin in December on a second 144-car ferry. The Ferries Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation and shipbuilder Vigor Industrial signed papers this morning to make the second new vessel a reality for customers of the state ferry system. “This has been a tremendous event for Washington state and our ferry system,” said David Moseley, assistant transportation secretary, Ferries Division. “This is another important step toward revitalizing our aging fleet. The Legislature funded a second 144-car ferry during the last session.

25 Apr 2012

Second WSF 144-car Ferry in Progress

Construction will begin in December on a second 144-car ferry. The Ferries Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation and shipbuilder Vigor Industrial signed papers this morning to make the second new vessel a reality for customers of the state ferry system. “This has been a tremendous event for Washington state and our ferry system,” said David Moseley, assistant transportation secretary, Ferries Division. “This is another important step toward revitalizing our aging fleet. The Legislature funded a second 144-car ferry during the last session.

23 Mar 2012

Construction Begins on Next-Generation Ferry

Rendering of Washington’s new 144-car ferry.

The first arc welds on the keel of Washington’s new 144-car ferry will be made later this month by the leaders of the state Legislature transportation committees, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen of Camano Island and Rep. Judy Clibborn of Mercer Island. The two legislators will join Washington State Ferries officials and ship workers at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 29, to commemorate the moment when the vessel’s keel is laid in place at Vigor Industrial’s Harbor Island shipyard in Seattle. Keel laying, the maritime equivalent of placing a cornerstone, is a traditional milestone in ship building.

15 Dec 2011

Build Team for WA Ferry Announced

Build-In-Washington Team announced for Washington State's next new ferry. Multi-company approach means 500 jobs across the region. Major members of the build-in-Washington subcontracting team that will build the state’s new 144-car ferry are now set, as prime contractor US Fab today announced final subcontracting agreements with companies, including Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island, Jesse Engineering of Tacoma, Vigor Marine of Everett and Eltech Electric of Seattle. The multi-company, multi-town approach supports more than 500 direct jobs around Puget Sound, including many new hires, and will support an estimated 2,000 additional indirect jobs in the state.

09 Nov 2011

New Keller Ferry Closer to Reality

Foss Maritime Co. of Seattle is the apparent low bidder to build a new 20-car Keller Ferry to serve Washington’s only ferry route east of the Cascade Mountains. The Keller ferry crosses Lake Roosevelt (part of the Columbia River) between the towns of Wilbur, Wash., and Keller, Wash., and provides essential transportation to several northeastern Washington counties, including Lincoln, Ferry and Stevens. “We’ve worked long and hard to replace this ferry,” said state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond after three bids were opened today. Foss Maritime was the apparent low bidder at $9,557,178. This is nearly $250,000 under the state’s estimate of $9,803,475.

14 Sep 2011

Bryan Nichols Joins Growing Vigor Shipyard Sales Team

Bryan Nichols

Bryan Nichols, one of the leading maritime business development professionals in the Pacific Northwest, is joining forces with VIGOR Industrial, which owns and operates the premier shipyards in the region. Nichols joins VIGOR as a sales representative for the company, which builds, repairs and modernizes commercial fishing and cargo vessels, ferries and military ships at six locations in the Northwest. Nichols had been sales and marketing manager at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island, Wash. “Joining VIGOR is an exciting next step for me,” Nichols said.

20 Oct 2011

Quigley Named President of US Fab

Kevin Quigley, who built VIGOR’s Everett Shipyard into one of the largest dockside repair centers in the Pacific Northwest, has been named president of VIGOR’s US Fab division. Quigley will oversee all of VIGOR’s new ship construction including ferries, advanced Coast Guard cutters, barges, fishing and cargo vessels. As US Fab president, he also will direct the company’s growing land-based and alternative energy fabrication projects. “The people who’ve built this company have been building ships for nearly a hundred years,” Quigley said.

01 Nov 2011

Good News Comes in Threes for State Ferries

Third 64-car ferry joins state fleet three months ahead of schedule. There must be something magic about the number three. Today, Vigor Industrial and its U.S. Fab shipbuilding division delivered the third of three new Washington state ferries, the 64-car Kennewick, three months ahead of schedule. “This is a major milestone in our vessel replacement program,” said Assistant Secretary David Moseley. “The Kwa-di Tabil class is now complete. The Kwa-di Tabil construction supported more than 360 family-wage jobs during the past two years at Seattle’s Harbor Island shipyard…

01 Nov 2011

WSF: Construction to Start on 144-car Ferry

WSDOT is moving forward to build new ferries to replace its aging fleet.

State invests in expanding ferry fleet, but funding unavailable for more vessels. Construction will begin early next year on a new 144-car ferry. The Ferries Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation today signed a contract change order with Vigor Industrial and its US Fab shipbuilding division to begin construction. “This has been a momentous week for Washington state and our ferry system,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire. Work on this first vessel will create an estimated 200 family-wage jobs at Vigor and 350 jobs at subcontractors, vendors and other shipyards in the region.

02 Nov 2011

VIGOR, US Fab Deliver Ferry to WSF

Receive Green Light to Begin Building Another. Shipbuilding to Generate More Than 500 Jobs at Two Dozen State Firms. One completed, one to begin. Even as VIGOR Industrial this week delivered the final new 64-car ferry to Washington State Ferries, the company’s US Fab shipbuilding division received a green light from the state to begin constructing the system’s next vessel. On Monday, the companies delivered the state’s newest ferry, Kennewick, to WSF, three months ahead of schedule.