Welded Steel News

Ingram Marine Group this week held a christening ceremony in New Orleans for Steve Alley, the fifth new towboat in the series of 10 ordered by the Nashville-based operator.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter M-compliant towboat was designed by Ingram Marine Group, Louisiana shipbuilder Main Iron Works, and naval architect Ashraf Degedy, PE.The 78-foot-long, 32-foot-wide newbuild is outfitted with twin Caterpillar Marine tier 3 diesel engines and Reintjes gearboxes, John Deere generators, and 76-inch Michigan special propellers.

On June 24, Ingram Marine Group held a special christening ceremony for four vessels: M/V Capt. Roy Daniels, M/V Randy Hooper, M/V Debbie L. Owen and M/V Harold B. Warren. The M/V Debbie L. Owen and M/V Capt. Roy Daniels are new builds. The M/V Randy Hooper and M/V Harold B. Warren are refurbished vessels.“The people we are honoring today are a testament to the kind of company we’ve worked hard to build. They really represent the ‘Ingram Way’ which is why it is so fitting to christen some of our vessels in their honor…

The Port of Beaumont announced its Board of Commissioners have approved a $57.3 million construction bid for a project aimed at increasing the port’s general cargo handling capacity by more than 15%. Phase II of the Main Street Terminal 1 project, awarded to McCarthy Building Companies, includes demolition of a failed dock structure and construction of a new state-of-the-art general cargo dock. The Main Street Terminal 1 project, funded in part by 2017 General Obligation Bonds, a 2019 U.S. DOT BUILD grant, and Port revenues, is expected to be complete by June 2024.

This year, despite innumerable challenges and setbacks, a great number of new U.S.-flagged vessels made their way into service. In addition to Maid of the Mist's new electric tour boats James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla featured Wednesday, the newbuilds highlighted below are some of the most noteworthy to come out of U.S. shipyards in 2020.DredgerU.S. dredging contractors have been adding tonnage in a big way. This Spring, Callan Marine added a significant piece to the U.S. fleet with its new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur.

Metal Shark announced Monday its Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipyard has delivered its first newbuild, a 120’ x 35’ river towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboat Stephanie Pasentine, which bears the distinction of being Louisiana-based Metal Shark’s first-ever steel newbuild and also its first inland towboat, was designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc.The vessel’s twin Cat 3512C marine diesel engines deliver 2…

Marine News recently visited the Blount Boats facility in Warren, Rhode Island. While the year 2019 might be the ‘year of the woman’ in the eyes of the International Maritime Organization, the two women at the head of Blount Boats – Marcia & Julie Blount– have been a driving force in the U.S. boatbuilding market for decades. As Blount’s celebrates its 70th anniversary, read about the storied yard’s promising future.Founded in 1949, Blount Boats is a full-service shipyard with a customer base comprised of a variety of commercial and government entities including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S.

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…

Rhode Island shipbuilder Blount Boats said it has signed a contract with the nation’s largest state power organization to construct an icebreaking, all-welded-steel, diesel-powered, double screw tugboat.The new vessel for the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will be built to operate in seasonal ice near the entrance to and within the upper Niagara River. This vessel will replace existing vessels in the NYPA fleet currently used for the installation, removal, and maintenance of…

GoM shipyards are meeting the demand for right-sized, multi-mission boats. In the last decade, Gulf Coast shipyards have watched demand for multi-mission vessels grow from foreign governments and U.S. authorities. In particular, local counties and municipalities – pinched by shrinking budgets and expanding mission sets – began the march to leverage a single hull for more than one task. And, since these boats can serve military or civilian needs, the need for boatbuilders to quickly adapt a standard hull form to a particular requirement became a highly desired skill set.

Conrad Shipyard won a contract to build a Crane Barge for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The 300 x 68-ft welded steel barge is to be used in floating crane service by the Corps’ Rock Island District in support of its maintenance mission on the inland navigation system. The barge is designed with a deckhouse and crew support area, generator room, shop area, office and heads. Below deck will enclose machinery spaces, storage areas and tankage. The vessel will be classified by ABS as Maltese Cross A1…

Three newbuild vessels have been delivered from Sanmar Shipyards to the Aqaba Port Marine Services Company (APMSCO) for the Sheikh Subah Al Ahmad Al Subah LNG terminal at Aqaba, Jordan, the shipbuilder announced. The overall contract comprises four 80-metric-ton bollard pull specially modified Terminal RAstar 2800 ASD tugs, two conventional twin screw Rascal 1500 line-handling tugs, all designed by Robert Allan Ltd. of Canada, and a pilot boat designed by Camarc Ltd in the U.K.

Crowley Marine Services, Inc. has sold a second sister-tug of the Point Class to Island Tug & Barge Co., Marcon International, Inc. reported. The sale of the ABS +A1, Towing, +AMS classed, 2,100BHP shallow draft ocean towing / push tug Pt. Oliktok mirrors the transaction which Marcon brokered in 2013 between the two parties on the sister vessel ex-Pt. Barrow. The three Point Class sister-tugs were specifically designed and built to work in the Arctic, where Crowley needed vessels…

Belgium Diesel Engine Manufacturer Provides Main Engine for Alaska Fishing Vessel. When the owners of the fishing pollock trawler, Great Pacific decided they needed to purchase a new main engine to replace their MAN B&W Alpha 10V23L-VO they took a hard look at all the engine manufacturers currently on the market that could support their needs. “Our goal was to find an engine that offers superior fuel and lube oil consumption; that had its EPA Tier III Certification and had domestic parts and service.” When the investigation was over and the dust cleared…

Independent safety supplier in the U.K., Ocean Safety, received the EC Certificate of Authorization from Lloyds Register, allowing the company to carry out all in-house certifications of gas cylinders. In accordance with the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive 2010/35EU, Ocean Safety is now authorized to pressure test many types of cylinders including composite, welded steel, seamless steel and aluminum gas. These cylinders are used in many applications within the commercial and leisure marine markets, including cruise ships, liferaft inflation and fire suppression systems.

Marcon International, Inc. has brokered the sale of another tug from Crowley Marine Services, Inc. to Island Tug & Barge Co., of Seattle, Washington. Marcon inform thatt the sale of the ABS +A1, Towing, +AMS classed, 2,100BHP shallow draft ocean towing / push tug "Pt. Barrow" closed during the 3rd week of July, 2013, adding that the tug is already getting a fresh paint job with ITB's colors with her new name "Island Wind", and she will promptly be again underway, this time working for her new owner. "Pt.

Heikki Remes, a researcher at the Aalto University in Finland, has developed a model making it possible to determine how fatigue sets in with various welded steel materials. The model allows for the development of lighter structures, and as a consequence, more energy-efficient ships. By utilizing modern manufacturing technology and new materials, it is possible to achieve more efficient structures than the ones that currently exist. In addition, better physical models are needed to ensure structural strength, Remes said.

Heikki Remes, a researcher at the Aalto University in Finland, has developed a model making it possible to determine how fatigue sets in with various welded steel materials. The model allows for the development of lighter structures, and as a consequence, more energy-efficient ships. By utilizing modern manufacturing technology and new materials, it is possible to achieve more efficient structures than the ones that currently exist. In addition, better physical models are needed to ensure structural strength, Remes says.

Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered the Ocean Wave, the first of four “Ocean” class tugs, to Crowley Maritime Corporation. “We are extremely proud of our Ocean Class team and the delivery of the first in class tug, Ocean Wave, said Chris Bollinger, executive vice president of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. The Ocean Wave is the first of the Ocean class tugs and is the first of two 10,880 BHP tugs that are featured with DP1 capabilities.

Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered the OCEAN WAVE, the first of four “Ocean” class tugs, to Crowley Maritime Corporation. “We are extremely proud of our Ocean Class team and the delivery of the first in class tug, OCEAN WAVE, said Chris Bollinger, executive vice president of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. The OCEAN WAVE is the first of the Ocean class tugs and is the first of two 10,880 BHP tugs that are featured with DP1 capabilities.

GMC Limited will formally launch its Intelligently Connected Pipe (ICP) concept to the industry at ONS 2012 (Stavanger 28 – 31 August) at stand #M1176. “ICP is a major step forward in riser technology as it allows GMC to deliver fatigue resistant, lightweight, non-welded steel risers,” explains Toby Bailey, European Sales and Marketing Manager. “We are delighted to be able use the ONS event as a platform to showcase this ground breaking technology, which can remove all welding from riser and flowline construction.” Innovation runs deep.

A new cable-guided electric ferry, designed by Elliott Bay Design Group LLC (EBDG), began carrying passengers and vehicles across Oregon’s Willamette River at Buena Vista. The new electric Buena Vista ferry replaces a diesel-powered version which had been in service for more than 50 years. EBDG was chosen to design the vessel, which was built by Diversified Marine of Portland, OR. The new vessel was delivered in May, ahead of schedule, to Marion County, the ferry’s owner and operator. “This ferry has an unconventional propulsion system,” said EBDG Project Manager Mike Complita.

In October 2010, the Offshore Support tug Smit Siyanda was delivered to her owners, SMIT Shipping Singapore Pte. Ltd. of Singapore. The vessel will be operated by SMIT Amandla Marine (Pty) Ltd. of South Africa. The Smit Siyanda was built by the Keppel Nantong Shipyard Co. Ltd. of China to a design by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, BC, based on the now well-proven platform of their RAmpage 5000 series offshore tug designs. This new vessel, however, has a rather more diverse operating mandate than its predecessors…

We all appreciated Don Sutherland's celebration of the 150 years of Moran towing (Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, April 2010). It was an exciting collection of vignettes on the life of the company and of its founder, Michael Moran. There were many other aspects of that remarkable company and of its equally remarkable founder that might further inform, if not entertain, the readers of Maritime Reporter. Rarely has a Moran tug been lost, but during the 1890s one vessel was overcome by heavy weather conditions immediately outside of New York harbor.