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Port Orchard News

07 Nov 2022

Navy: Swedish Combat Boat 90, Both a Warrior and a Workhorse

A riverine command boat operates alongside the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zane Ecklund)

The Swedish-built Combat Boat 90 (CB 90) has established itself with military forces around the world as both a warrior and a workhorse. The 52-foot boats first entered service in 1991 as troop carriers with the Swedish Marines, which is still procuring them. There are more than 250 operating worldwide today.These rugged boats are optimized for high-speed / shallow-draft operations in and around Sweden’s many coastal islands, but they have also proven to be ideal for a variety of other applications and operating environments.The CB 90 is 52 feet long, with a draft of just 2 feet 7 inches.

11 Mar 2022

2022 US Shipbuilding Report

Gladding Hearn is currently building four pilot boats, including a 70-foot pilot boat for the Galveston Pilots. (Photo: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)

It’s a common story in the U.S. shipbuilding industry today. A piece of equipment that used to be available for delivery on short notice—maybe in one or two weeks—now must be ordered months or more in advance, and it costs double. Add to this rising steel prices and the labor issues that have pervaded nearly all industrial sectors since the early days of the pandemic, and it’s clear that business is far from usual for American shipyards.Bollinger Shipyards president and CEO, Ben Bordelon…

21 Feb 2022

US Awards More Than $45 Million in Passenger Ferry Grants

Š Dan / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $45.3 million in grant funding to help buy, repair, and modernize ferry boats and terminals.The fiscal year 2021 grants have been awarded to projects in 11 states and territories, providing funds for capital projects that support existing passenger ferry service, establish new ferry service, and upgrade ferry boats, terminals and related facilities and equipment. The grants also help transit agencies and ferry companies offset the considerable cost of introducing new…

18 Nov 2021

Leading the Charge

Crowley’s new eWolf will be the first all-electric tugboat in the U.S. (Image: Crowley)

Alternatives to fossil fuels are emerging throughout the maritime universe, and vessels working in U.S. rivers, waterways and harbors are at the cusp on this trend. While the alternative fuels spectrum is wide, battery power and electrification—a technology that has seen a decade of shipboard applications already—is particularly suited for smaller vessels.Crowley Maritime Corp will be taking delivery of a completely electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf; the boat- which will include kit for advanced vessel control tied to an electric propulsion system from ABB…

28 Aug 2020

Kitsap Transit Gets Fed Funds for High-Speed, Low-Emission Ferry Project

Illustration courtesy of Glosten

As the global maritime community collectively is slowly pushed toward decarbonization, it is generally agreed that there is no ‘silver bullet’ technical solution and that progress will come in steps, led by public/private collaboration and funding.A recent development following that script is the awarding this week of federal funds to a Washington State team working to accelerate ferry technology, with the joint innovation project selected for funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration.

14 Aug 2020

A Quiet Revolution

Waterman (Photo: All American Marine)

BAE Systems’ HybriGen technology is creating a path to zero emissions.The rise in planet-warming greenhouse gases is driving a need for cleaner transportation on the ground, in the air and on the water. Leaders in the marine industry are taking note, and vessel operators are making the move to green power and propulsion systems.BAE Systems is creating a path to cleaner harbors and waterways with its HybriGen Power and Propulsion system. The system has three configurations to provide operators with options on their way to zero emissions.

20 May 2020

Powering the Emissions Revolution

Enhydra (Photo: All American Marine)

Beneath the decks of vessels across the U.S. a quiet revolution is underway. Inside their underbelly is a high-tech set of components that work in unison – quietly humming together to push vessels through the water without a splash.The technology isn’t new. In fact, it has been powering cars and buses for years. However, with the rise in planet-warming greenhouse gases, it’s now making its way to the open water and creating a new wave of clean transportation. As vessel operators see the environmental benefits…

31 Jul 2019

CG Responds to Sunken Tug in WA Marina

Photo: USCG

Coast Guard pollution responders are responding to a report of a tug that sank at the Port Orchard Railway Marina in Port Townsend, Washington, Monday.Members from Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound's Incident Management Division are on scene overseeing the removal and containment of fuel discharged from the 65-foot tug Meagan M. The vessel is currently registered as a towing vessel; however the master claims it has been used in a strictly recreational capacity for the past two years.

11 Feb 2019

Kitsap Transit's Hybrid-Electric Water Taxi

Photo: All American Marine

All American Marine, Inc. (AAM) built and launched a 150-passenger hybrid electric vessel for Kitsap Transit.The aluminum catamaran was designed by Glosten, Seattle, WA, and will operate during peak times on Kitsap’s Bremerton-Port Orchard or Bremerton- Annapolis routes.The 70 x 26 ft. USCG certified passenger ferry features an efficient aluminum catamaran hull, ADA access throughout the main deck, and twin BAE Systems HybriDrive propulsion systems driving fixed pitch propellers.

26 Feb 2018

All American Marine Wins Kitsap Ferry Contract

Kitsap Transit Approves $15 Million Contract for Two All American Marine High Speed Low Wake Ferries. Kitsap Transit’s board recently approved a $15 million contract with All American Marine, Inc. (AAM) for the construction of two additional Rich Passage-class passenger ferries. The new ferries will be designed to operate on Kitsap Transit’s current cross sound ferry route between Bremerton and downtown Seattle. The design of the new vessels is based upon the successful ultra low wake All American Marine built, Rich Passage 1. AAM was tapped as the sole source to build the vessels as the licensed builder of Teknicraft Design hulls in North America.

24 Jan 2018

A 'Ferry' Good Year

The new NYC Ferry service kicked off in 2017 (Photo: Dale Barnett)

New routes, new challenges and plenty of newbuilding as 2017 gives way to the New Year. A year ago, the maritime industry could be found clinging to the edge of their seats to see what the coming year had in store. 2017 was set to be a telling year and indeed it was. With the elections finalized, the political impact, if any, was sure to be seen. While fuel prices have remained low and continuing to hamper the offshore workboat market, consumer confidence has held high and new vessel construction is strong – particularly in the ferry segment.

21 Mar 2016

Fire Destroys 6 Boats at Port Orchard Yacht Club

Six boats and 10 housing sheds were destroyed by a fierce fire early Sunday morning at the Port Orchard Yacht Club. South Kitsap Fire officials say the fire broke out around 3 a.m. at the yacht club on Bay Street. "We were asleep and our friends called us up and said do you realize there is a fire on b dock," said Barbara Letson, who has a house boat. Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology and South Kitsap Fire & Rescue are mopping up any pollution resulting from an early morning fire at Port Orchard Yacht Club. Luckily no one was hurt in the fire, officials said. Coast Guard’s incident management team was on site shortly after the blaze was called in. The team began an assessment of the damage and of any potential hazards in the water.

11 Apr 2015

Seattle Area Could Use Old Aircraft Carriers as a Bridge

A Washington state lawmaker looking to ease traffic congestion for several Puget Sound-area communities near Seattle has proposed building an eye-catching new toll bridge made from retired Navy aircraft carriers. Republican Representative Jesse Young has been gathering support among colleagues and the public for the planned span, which would link Bremerton and Port Orchard on the Kitsap Peninsula, spokesman Kevin Shutty said on Friday. "It's a bottleneck area and for a number of years people have been looking for some solutions," Shutty said. The area near where the proposed bridge would be built includes a U.S. Navy base and naval hospital, and it is home to many retired veterans from all arms of the military.

27 Feb 2014

On Patrol with the U.S. Coast Guard

Building programs continue, spanning the full range of missions, despite budget concerns. Amidst all the talk of Beltway budget cutbacks and sequestration, the U.S. Coast Guard is quietly investing approximately $30 billion in major acquisition projects to modernize its physical assets. The process of recapitalizing these older and difficult-to-maintain assets has never been an easy task, and the Coast Guard has seen its share of bumps along the way. For example, the initially messy Deepwater debacle initially kicked off what has evolved into today’s more successful recapitalization process, now run by the Coast Guard’s Acquisition Directorate, which stood up in July 2007.

21 Jun 2011

USCG Awards Contracts for Four Test Boats

The Coast Guard on June 7 awarded four firm fixed-price production contracts to deliver the first test boats for the seven-meter Cutter Boat Over-The-Horizon-IV (CB-OTH-IV) project. The contracts were awarded to MetalCraft Marine U.S. (Clayton, NY), SAFE Boats International (Port Orchard, Wash.), Silver Ships, Inc. (Theodore, Ala.) and William E. Munson Company (Burlington, Wash). Each awardee will deliver one test boat to the Coast Guard for competitive evaluation beginning fall 2011. At the conclusion of the competition the Coast Guard will select one of the four test boats for additional production and begin operational test and evaluation activities.

11 Feb 2011

Contracts Awarded: Response Boat–Small Replacement Project

Legacy 25’ Defender Class RB-S. USCG photo by PA2 Andy Kendrick

On February 4, 2011, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded two fixed price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts to begin replacement of the current Response Boat-Small (RB-S) fleet, which is nearing the end of its ten-year service life. The contracts were awarded to Metal Shark Aluminum Boats of Jeanerette, La., and SAFE Boats International of Port Orchard, Wash. Under the terms of the contract, each builder will produce a minimum of one boat, based on a proven hull design, to be delivered in June of this year. The Coast Guard will test and validate each boat this summer.

19 Aug 2009

70 Shipyards Awarded ARRA Grants

The Department of Transportation has announced 70 grants totaling $98m in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds that will be used to improve small shipyards throughout the United States. The funds, awarded through the Maritime Administration’s Assistance to Small Shipyards program, will help create and preserve jobs, provide valuable employment training and make much needed improvements to shipyards across the country. The Small Shipyards Grant program provides up to 75 percent in ARRA funds for a project and requires the remainder be matched by the shipyard. A detailed list of the grantees is as follows. •    Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc.,  Philadelphia, PA: $2,312,614, for the first year of training program.

24 Jul 2002

Raytheon to Produce SURC for USMC

An industry team led by Raytheon's Naval & Maritime Integrated Systems (N&MIS) business unit has been awarded a competitively procured contract to produce Small Unit Riverine Craft (SURC) for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). The Raytheon team will produce up to 100 SURCs, with a nominal contract value of $30 million and a potential contract value of up to $60 million. SURC will provide the USMC with a combat craft capable of transporting a 13-man infantry squad primarily in support of operations on inland waterways as well as in a variety of conditions on the open sea. Procured as a commercial item, the Marine Corps team used performance-based acquisition practices and an innovative strategy that reduced the procurement cycle time to less than six months.

11 Mar 2002

USCG Awards Contract for Response Boats

The U.S. Coast Guard today awarded a contract of up to $10 million to SAFE Boats International of Port Orchard, Wash., for ports and waterways response boats. Funding for the boats, which will help the service perform Homeland Security missions, was provided in the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2002. The initial order is for 18 boats with an option of procuring additional craft and essential spare parts over the next 18 months. "The Coast Guard is currently operating the largest port security program since World War II alongside other federal, state and local agencies," said Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. in key economic and militarily strategic ports.

01 Apr 2003

Coast Guard Purchases Defender Class Response Boats

At the Port of Philadelphia yesterday, President Bush discussed the Coast Guard’s role in Operation Liberty Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the War on Terrorism. The President also announced that the Coast Guard will purchase up to 700 new Defender Class Response Boats from SAFE Boats International of Port Orchard, Wash., which will be utilized in homeland security missions. The new Defender Class boats will replace nearly 300 non-standard shore based boats and provide a standardized platform for the Coast Guard's new Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSST's) which were established as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The Coast Guard selected SAFE Boats International to manufacture the boats after a two-phased process.

29 Jul 2003

USNS Bob Hope Pays Tribute to Namesake

From Commander, U.S. The Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR 300) honored its late namesake by doing what Bob Hope would have wanted – supporting the troops. USNS Bob Hope has been deployed for the past 81 days in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the ship’s three main missions within the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, USNS Bob Hope transported nearly 38,912 tons of combat gear. “The officers and crew of USNS Bob Hope have been proud to carry almost 40,000 tons of equipment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom,” said the ship’s master, Capt. Joseph “David” Henderson Jr. “Some of the equipment was used to support units like the 101st Airborne, a unit Mr. Hope entertained 33 years ago in Hue City, Vietnam.

24 Apr 2008

Maritime Administration Awards $9.8m in Shipyard Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announced $9.8m in grants to 19 small shipyards in the . The grants are part of the new Assistance to Small Shipyards program, set up under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006. “Small shipyards are vitally important for the health of the maritime industry, and for the economy of the Nation,” said Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton. The purpose of the grants is to make capital and infrastructure improvements that facilitate the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and quality of domestic ship construction, conversion or repair for commercial and federal government use. The grants cover a maximum of 75-percent of the estimated cost of improvements. The companies are responsible for the remainder.

16 Oct 2007

Safe Boats Wins Surf Boat Contract

SAFE Boats International won a contract from the USCG Office of Boat Forces in Washington, DC to build two self-righting 42-ft. Archangel Class vessels. Designated by the USCG and the Department of Homeland Security as the Special Purpose Craft – Near Shore Lifeboat (SPC-NLB), the NLB is 100 percent designed and manufactured in the US by SBI at the Port Orchard, Wash., factory. The USCG plans to operate the NLB in varying sea and weather conditions along the entire coast of the U.S. and use it as a fast response and utility boat. The hull design will allow the NLB to operate in shallow water areas and transit surf zones through breaking seas in excess of 15-ft.