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Matt Nichols News

24 Jun 2019

ITB Christens New Tug Island Regent

Canada's Island Tug and Barge (ITB) christened the second of two new ATB tugs, the Island Regent, at its headquarters in Burnaby.The Island Regent was designed by acclaimed Robert Allan Ltd. naval architects and marine engineers of Vancouver, B.C. to be paired with ITB’s double-hulled oil tank barge, the ITB Reliant, as an articulated tug and barge (ATB), said a press release from the subsidiary of Tidewater Canada.Bob Curcio, Tidewater President and CEO said: “The first ATB, the Island Raider and ITB Resolution, has performed exceptionally well in its first year of service. We are excited to have the Island Regent and ITB Reliant joining it soon.

17 Aug 2016

Shipbuilding: P3 Projects (with a Twist)

Credit: Vigor

Private partnerships, executed perfectly – that’s West Coast boatbuilding in today’s challenging business climates. P3 Partnerships: no, we’re not talking about infrastructure funding. But, in our P3 version, boatbuilding in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska is alive and well, because of it. Long-standing enterprises and relative newcomers are all experiencing an uptick in projects. Here, as part of our annual MN100 top company profiles, we take a look at how three organizations have either merged and/or partnered with complementary companies to expand skills…

16 Dec 2014

Higgins Named CEO of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders

Gavin Higgins (Photo: NBBB)

Gavin Higgins has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ice Floe LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB), the company announced today. Effective immediately, Higgins replaces Matt Nichols, one of the company’s founders who has served as CEO of NBBB since February 2012, also serving as CEO for more than 35 years prior to the company’s sale in 2008. Nichols will remain with the company as its Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, and as a member of the board of directors.

10 Sep 2012

Nichols Taps Higgins as COO

Gavin Higgins, Chief Operating Officer at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders.

Gavin Higgins has joined Nichols Brothers Boat Builders as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Gavin Higgins has been appointed the Chief Operating Officer at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. Gavin’s duties will include oversight of Engineering, Production, Project Management, Purchasing and Facilities. He will be working with the current team for the successful delivery of two tugs and superstructure for the new Washington State Ferries currently under construction at the Freeland facility.

18 Jan 2002

Nichol's Bros. Will Build American West Steamboat

Henry Hillman, Jr., president of American West Steamboat in Seattle, announced early in December that Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Inc., had been selected to build the “Empress of the North,” a 360 by 60 ft. sternwheeler that will be the Whidbey Island, Washington’s yard largest single-boat contract. The vessel, which will accommodate 236 overnight cruise guests and 84 crewmembers, will be utilized for cruises in season in southeast Alaska and the Columbia/Snake River complex. Reportedly, the “Empress” will be the first sternwheeler on the Inside Passage in more than 100 years. Hillman said that construction and outfitting costs are expected to exceed $50 million. The United States Maritime Administration will provide a loan guarantee to facilitate funding of the project, he said.

16 Jul 2002

Empress of the North Scheduled for Completion in May 2003

American West Steamboat Company has begun construction of a second sternwheeler cruise ship, the Empress of the North, scheduled for completion in May 2003. The Empress of the North is being built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Wash., where her sister ship, the sternwheeler Queen of the West, was completed in 1995. Designed in Seattle by naval architects, Guido Perla & Associates, the Empress of the North will be 360 ft. long and accommodate 236 passengers and 84 crew. The ship will feature 112 all-outside suites and staterooms, of which 105 will have private verandahs. The Empress of the North will operate 11-night cruises between Seattle and Juneau, along the famed Inside Passage of Canada and Alaska beginning June to mid-September, 2003.

23 Jul 2003

News: Nichols Brothers Launch Sternwheeler

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island and Seattle-based American West Steamboat Company, owned by Henry Hillman, Jr., CEO of Oregon Rail Corp., launched the newly constructed overnight sternwheeler cruise ship Empress of the North. The 360-ft. sternwheeler was transferred on a specially designed rail system into Holmes Harbor, where it launched. Designed by Seattle naval architects, Guido Perla & Associates, construction of the Empress of the North began at Nichols Brothers' shipyard in April, 2002. She is the largest ship built by Nichols Brothers, with over 350 employees on the job and approximately 300,000 man-hours involved in the project.

24 Jun 2003

Nichols Brothers Launch Sternwheeler Cruise Ship

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Whidbey Island and Seattle-based American West Steamboat Company, owned by Henry Hillman, Jr., CEO of Oregon Rail Corp., have launched the newly constructed overnight sternwheeler cruise ship Empress of the North. Beginning at 5:00am on Monday, June 16, 2003, the 360-foot sternwheeler was transferred on a specially designed rail system into Holmes Harbor, where it launched at high tide at approximately 8:45pm. With the launch open to the public, an estimated 5,000 people showed up for the event. Designed by Seattle naval architects, Guido Perla & Associates, construction of the Empress of the North began at Nichols Brothers’ shipyard in April, 2002.

18 Aug 1999

Nichols To Construct 800-Passenger Dinner Boat

Nichols Boat Builders is currently building a new $8 million dinner boat for Argosy Cruises, designed to resemble the bluff-bowed steamboats of the Mosquito Fleet that plied Puget Sound before the turn of the century. The 180 ft. vessel is expected to enter service along the Seattle waterfront in June 2000 carrying 800 passengers on three decks, according to John Blackman, Argosy board chairman and Matt Nichols, president of the Whidbey Island, Wash. boat building company. Powered by a pair of 7,000-hp Lugger engines from Alaska Diesel Electric, with power plants employing Twin Disc deep case reduction gears driving the vessel to a top speed of 11 knots.