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Massachusetts Bay News

27 Jan 2023

US Announces More Grant Funding for Ferry Upgrades

(Photo: Eric Kilby - CC BY-SA 2.0)

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced $384.4 million in federal funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for expanding and improving the nation’s ferry service in communities across the country, as well as accelerate the transition to zero emission transportation.In total, FTA is awarding 23 grants across 11 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Grants will fund projects including replacement of old vessels, expand fleets, and build new terminals and docks.

16 Aug 2019

Ferry Runs Aground in Boston Harbor

Coast Guard Station Point Allerton crew members respond during the grounding of the ferry Lightening in Boston Harbor, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Station Point Allerton)

Four people were injured Friday morning when a Boston-bound ferry ran aground off Long Island in Boston Harbor, the U.S. Coast Guard said. At approximately 7:45 a.m., J.P. Vega, operations manager for Boston Harbor Cruises, reported to Coast Guard watchstanders that the ferry Lightening ran aground with 84 people aboard.The Coast Guard said it launched rescue crews from Station Boston and Point Allerton to assist in the response alongside state and local partner agencies.The four…

11 Feb 2019

Ørsted Sells Half of US Offshore Wind Assets

Denmark’s Ørsted is selling a 50% stake in a portfolio of offshore wind assets to New England utility Eversource Energy, for about $225 million."Ørsted and Eversource have been partners in the Massachusetts Bay State Wind offshore wind project and with this announcement, we further strengthen our strategic 50-50 partnership in the North-East," said a press release from the largest energy company in Denmark.The divestment includes the 704MW Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island that will deliver power to Rhode Island (400MW) and Connecticut (304MW), and the about-130MW South Fork project east of Long Island that has a…

22 Jun 2018

Second Fast Ferry Delivered in Massachusetts

M/V Glory (Photo: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)

The second of two new high-speed catamarans from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has been delivered to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA).Funded by a grant from the Federal Transit Authority (FTA), M/V Glory will pair with her sister-ship to provide year-round commuter service in Boston Harbor, replacing the high-speed ferries built by the Somerset, Mass. shipyard in 1997.Designed by Incat Crowther, the all-aluminum ferry is 88.7 feet LOA, 28.8 feet abeam, and draws approximately four feet loaded.

27 Feb 2018

MBTA Welcomes New Addition to Boston Ferry Fleet

As part of a continued effort to invest in Boston-area water transportation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently welcomed a new high-speed catamaran ferry, Champion to its fleet with support from STV, a leading engineering, architectural, planning, and construction management firm. Champion is the first new passenger ferry vessel procured by the MBTA. It was also the first new water-borne vessel procurement supported by STV, which has a long-standing history of providing procurement support services for rail and bus vehicles to the MBTA and other transportation agencies throughout North America. The new ferry will provide service between Hingham, Hull, Logan Airport and downtown Boston.

14 Feb 2018

Interview: Alison Nolan, GM, Boston Harbor Cruises

Alison Nolan, General Manager and a fourth-generation owner of Boston Harbor Cruises (Photo: BHC)

Alison Nolan is General Manager and a fourth-generation owner of Boston Harbor Cruises (BHC), a company that moves more than 2.5 million passengers annually on its fleet of 60 vessels with more than 600 daily departures seven ports and more than 30 facilities. But the story of BHC and Alison Nolan transcends raw numbers; as the company and passenger vessel industry are in her DNA, more of a lifestyle than a career. She spoke with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently to address the rewards and challenges inherent in her position.

29 Dec 2017

Best Workboats of 2017

Marine News showcases the best of North America’s 2017 workboat deliveries. There is something for everyone. Notwithstanding the lingering offshore energy downturn, there were plenty of bright spots for North American shipyards in 2017. If a hull was delivered in 2017, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For starters, it is always exciting when a domestic yard delivers a vessel – or multiple vessels, for that matter – to foreign buyers. We can compete in a foreign arena; on price, quality and on-time delivery. This year was no different. No less important is the environmental footprint of a vessel, and there was plenty to report on from that angle in the past 12 months. The domestic waterfront is indeed getting greener and cleaner.

27 Oct 2017

Massachusetts Takes Delivery of New Fast Ferry

New ferry Champion for MBTA (Photo: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has taken delivery of Champion, the first of two new 150-passenger, high-speed catamarans built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. The new vessels – funded by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) – will operate year-round commuter service in Boston Harbor, in addition to two high-speed ferries built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 1997. Designed by Incat Crowther, the all-aluminum ferry is 90 feet LOA, 28.8 feet abeam, and draws approximately four feet loaded.

25 Oct 2017

New Ferry Marks a Milestone for Incat Crowther

The latest passenger ferry constructed by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding for Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority signals a milestone delivery for marine design firm Incat Crowther. The 27-meter catamaran Champion marks the 500th vessel designed by Incat Crowther. “To have successfully designed 500 large commercial vessels is no accident,” said Incat Crowther CEO, Brett Crowther. Crowther added, “It’s apt that our 500th vessel is a Gladding-Hearn build. Peter Duclos, Director of Business Development at Gladding Hearn, said, “Gladding Hearn’s philosophy is to build commercial vessels that make our customers successful. Incat Crowther said Champion’s design is optimized for bow loading, with double-width gates and doors.

04 Jan 2017

EPA Awards Nearly $2 Mln for Clean Repowers

Three New England projects have been awarded nearly two million dollars under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) competitive national grant competition to reduce diesel emissions. The grants, totaling $1,975,000, were made under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). The funding will assist the Connecticut Maritime Foundation, the Massachusetts Port Authority and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in marine vessel repowering and vehicle replacement projects. Diesel engines contribute significantly to air pollution, especially in urban areas. The fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health risks, including aggravated asthma and other respiratory symptoms. Children are especially vulnerable to these effects.

03 Mar 2015

Winter in US Northeast Takes a Toll on Ferries

Photo: The Boston Harbor Association

With its black hull rumbling against a field of broken ice, the Warren Jr. slowly eased away from a dock in the Boston suburb of Hingham on Tuesday, aiming to clear a path for some of the four ferries that carry commuters from here into the city each day. But in a sign of how long Massachusetts has been gripped by freezing temperatures, no other vessels followed, as the tide narrowed the channel behind the oceangoing supply boat pressed into service as an icebreaker. It was the…

09 Jan 2015

Ferry Fixation: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

King County Water Taxi

It all adds up to the global effort to strengthen bottom lines, safety margins and the collective environmental footprint. The future for ferries seems to be on fire; both in good ways and bad. The good is always a good place to start. And, that’s because it is ferry fabrication time. The most notable ferry routes in America are jumping into the construction queue for new vessels and soon the next generation of ferry vessels will be hitting the piers (not literally of course).

19 Aug 2014

USCG Issues Boating Under Influence Citation in Massachusetts Bay

Coast Guard law enforcement crews issued a boating under the influence citation to the operator of a vessel late Sunday night in Massachusetts Bay. Watchstanders at Station Point Allerton received notification of a 12-foot Boston Whaler that was adrift and disabled off of Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts. A crew from Station Point Allerton and the Hull Harbormaster launched to assess the situation. Once on scene the Station's Crew noticed that the operator appeared to be intoxicated. Station Point Allerton took the vessel in side tow and brought it to Hull, Massachusetts where local police were waiting. A field sobriety test was given to the operator which determined that he was intoxicated. The Boarding Officer issued a civil citation to the operator for Boating Under the Influence.

10 Apr 2013

Moran Shipping's Capt. Steve Palmer Recognized

Award Ceremony: Photo credit USCG

Captain Steve Palmer, Vice-President Moran Shipping Agencies, receives USCG's Meritorious Public Service award. Making the presentation on behalf of the Commandant, Rear Admiral D. "The Commandant takes great pleasure in presenting the U. S. Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award to Captain Steve Palmer, Vice president and Quality Manager for Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc. for meritorious public service to the Coast Guard from November 1998 to April 2013. As a highly…

03 May 2010

SeaKits for Boston’s Best Cruises

Photo courtesy Chesapeake ProCon

SeaKits, the developer and provider of the Marine Maintenance System (MMS), has signed an agreement with Boston’s Best Cruises to provide the company’s two workboat fleets with their turnkey MMS Fleet Solutions. SeaKits and Boston’s Best Cruises met at the Passenger Vessel Association meeting in February and began discussions of implementing Fleet Solutions into their Boston and Ft. Lauderdale based fleets. The Boston fleet’s maintenance program will begin operations with MMS by the end of April.

16 Mar 2010

PVA Elects New Officers and Board

At the 2010 Passenger Vessel Association Convention at MariTrends in Tampa, Fla., the members of the PVA elected their new officers and board members. Captain Kevin Stier, River Cruises, Scales Mound, Ill. Captain Jay Spence, Massachusetts Bay Lines, Boston, Mass. Paul Belforti, Entertainment Cruises, Chicago, Ill. Captain Kevin Stier is the owner and operator of River Cruises. River Cruises offers two day overnight cruises on the Upper Mississippi River aboard the vessel Twilight. Captain Stier’s career started with him working on the Julia Belle Swain for the late Captain Dennis Trone, one of the original members of the PVA, throughout the span of his career Captain Stier has piloted the Julia Belle Swain, the Talisman and Twilight, of which he was instrumental in the construction.

02 Mar 2010

PVA Elects New President, Officers,Board

PVA members, during the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2010 in Tampa, Fla., elected Kevin Stier as President. Captain Stier is owner of River Cruises, Scales Mound, Ill.. River Cruises operates the 149 passenger Riverboat Twilight that offers two-day overnight cruises on the Upper Mississippi River. A longtime member of the PVA Regulatory Committee, Captain Stier has been a member of the PVA Board of Directors since 2003 and has served as PVA Vice-President and PVA Secretary-Treasurer. Captain Jay Spence was elected PVA Vice President. Captain Spence is General Manager of Massachusetts Bay Lines in Boston, Mass. This second-generation, family-owned business has operated since 1963 and is the oldest operating year-round commuter service in Boston.

02 Dec 2009

New RAmparts 3000 Tug for Boston Towing

Photo courtesy Robert Allan Ltd.

Boston Towing and Transportation Company has taken delivery of the first of a new pair of tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C., for offshore LNG Terminal support for the Neptune LNG LLC, Deep Water Port, offshore Massachusetts Bay. The M.V. Justice is the smaller of the two tugs. It is a modified RAmparts 3000 Class tug which will primarily be engaged in harbour duties, but will serve as the back-up for the larger tug (the ASD 39/70 Class Independence) during the latter's service periods.

27 Dec 2007

Barge Hits Rail Bridge

The Coast Guard, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company responded after a tug and barge struck a railroad bridge in Beverly, MA, on December 21, 2007. The 35-foot tug Edna, owned by Jay Cashman Inc., with barge Weeks #70, was transporting dredge material outbound on the Danvers River to Beverly Harbor when the barge struck the Beverly Railroad Bridge at approximately 4:45 a.m. Both the barge and bridge sustained minimal damage. No injuries were reported. The MBTA and MBCR are working to repair damages to the bridge. Two crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Gloucester worked with the Beverly harbor master to assess damage to the barge, which was minimal.

29 Jun 2004

Gladding-Hearn Delivers Research Boat to WHOI

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has taken delivery of Tioga, a new coastal research vessel from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. Designed by Roger Long Marine Architecture, the all-aluminum vessel, replaces the Institution’s aging 46-foot vessel Asterias. The new vessel’s shallow-V planing hull measures 60 ft. overall, with a 17.7-ft. beam and 5-ft. draft. The vessel is U.S. Coast Guard-certified for up to 49-passengers. According to Institution officials…

06 Jul 2004

Gladding-Hearn Delivers for WHOI

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has taken delivery of Tioga, a new coastal research vessel from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. Designed by Roger Long Marine Architecture, the all-aluminum vessel, replaces the 46-ft. vessel Asterias. The new vessel's shallow-V planing hull measures 60 ft. overall, with a 17.7-ft. beam and 5-ft. draft. The vessel is U.S. Coast Guard-certified for up to 49-passengers. According to Institution officials, the new vessel's expanded capabilities and 21-knot speed will provide quick and efficient access to the near-shores of Massachusetts Bay and Nantucket Sound, and sufficient muscle to deploy a complex array of research equipment.

27 Mar 2002

Gladding Hearn Signs To Build New Coastal Vessel

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation of Somerset, MA, signed a contract today to build a 60-ft. vessel to replace the Institution's aging 46-ft. coastal vessel Asterias. Construction of the new vessel is estimated at a cost of $1.6 million, with delivery expected in March 2004. "The need for this type of vessel has increased dramatically over the past few years as our interests in our continental shelf continue to increase," said WHOI Director and President Robert Gagosian. The Asterias replacement, designed by Roger Long Marine Architecture, Inc. of Cape Elizabeth, Maine…

16 May 2002

Gladding Hearn Signs To Build New Vessel

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation of Somerset, Mass. signed a contract to build a 60-ft. vessel to replace the Institution's 46-ft. coastal vessel Asterias. Construction of the new vessel is estimated at a cost of $1.6 million, with delivery expected in March 2004. "The need for this type of vessel has increased dramatically over the past few years as our interests in our continental shelf continue to increase," said WHOI Director and President Robert Gagosian. The Asterias replacement, designed by Roger Long Marine Architecture, Inc. of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, will offer researchers many expanded capabilities…