Dakota Creek Industries News

Anacortes, Wash. shipbuilder Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) has delivered a new state-of-the-art oil spill response barge to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for operation in the coastal waters of Alaska.The barge, named Allison Creek, is specifically designed by Elliot Bay Design Group (EBDG) to meet the rigorous requirements in Prince William Sound. Allison Creek has a capacity of 13,600 barrels, an overall length of 200', beam of 42', depth of 16' and is outfitted with a deck crane and on-deck houses to store emergency response equipment.The barge is certified by the U.S.

Anacortes, Wash. shipbuilder Dakota Creek Industries announced it has opened the application process for its three-year paid apprenticeship program.Slated to begin on July 1, 2024, the formalized, structured program offers both on-the-job training (OJT) and related supplemental instruction through a combination practical, classroom and technical training."Essential skills taught during the program are tailored to meet or exceed industry standards, ensuring that apprentices are equipped with the expertise needed for a successful career in the marine industry…

Spearheaded by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), Bay Ferry 2050 is a visionary initiative aimed at transforming the San Francisco Bay Ferry service into an eco-friendly and forward-thinking transportation system. With a focus on fleet electrification, community engagement and the exploration of alternative propulsion technologies, the project sets the stage for a more community-minded, sustainable, operationally strong, fiscally sound and environmentally conscious…

Bremerton, Wash. ferry operator Kitsap Transit said it has purchased the secondhand passenger vessel Solano for approximately $1 million from the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA),The sale closed last Friday following approval by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The federal government has an interest in the 125-foot high-speed ferry that dates back to 2004, when the City of Vallejo, Calif., used a federal grant to buy the 320-passenger catamaran for $11,165,604 from Anacortes, Wash.

Richard "Dick" Nelson, co-founder of shipbuilding and repair yard Dakota Creek Industries, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 78.Nelson began his shipbuilding career in 1963 at Weldcraft Steel Works, a shipyard in Bellingham, Wash. before going on to co-found Post Point Shipyard and then Dakota Creek Industries.When Post Point Shipyard was sold, Nelson co-founded Dakota Creek Industries as a ship repair yard in Blaine, Wash., in 1975. Two years later, Dakota Creek moved to Anacortes…

Built by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Wash., the first of the U.S. Navy's new fleet of six YT 808-class tugs was delivered in October after completing the last construction phase. Measuring 90 feet long and 38 feet 3 inches wide, the YT 808 vessel is powered by twin Cat 3512E marine engines, each rated at 1,810 horsepower. The engines drive two Schottel SRP 340 fixed-pitch z-drive thrusters providing a top speed of 12.5 knots and an expected bollard pull of 40 metric tons.The new series of Robert Allan Ltd.-designed tugs are the Navy's first vessels built to meet the U.S.

The U.S. Navy’s first Yard Tug (YT) 808 class tug recently delivered to Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton Annex. Only 17 days after delivery, YT 808 was in the water assisting USNS Richard Byrd (T-AKE 4) as it moved away from the dock at Naval Magazine Indian Island.“Narrowing the gap between delivery and providing operational support is a priority for our team,” said Mike Kosar, program manager of Support Ships, Boats, and Craft Program Office within Program Executive Office Ships (PEO Ships).

The first of the U.S. Navy's new YT-808 tugs being built by Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) has been outfitted with a sophisticated marine electronics package from Furuno. Mackay Marine selected and installed a comprehensive suite of electronics that will assist YT-808 in fulfilling its ship-handling duties for the full range of U.S. Navy surface warships, barges and submarines. The helm aboard the new vessel includes a 12kW FAR2218BB Radar, DS80 Doppler Speed Log, GP330B GPS Receiver, FA170 AIS, and RD33 Data organizer.

Okay it’s not that little – it can bend up to 220 metric tons (240 US tons).But in the larger scheme of the U.S. economy, security and infrastructure; or of the country’s maritime competitiveness; or even the financial health of the Dakota Creek Industries shipyard and its 300 production jobs; this little bender has the potential to make a mighty big difference.Dakota Creek recently installed the Stierli-Bieger 2200 SE CNC horizontal ram bender in its Anacortes, Wash. shipyard.

The U.S. Navy’s first Yard Tug (YT) 808 class vessel was launched at Dakota Creek Industries' (DCI) shipyard on May 16. The Navy and DCI plan to conduct acceptance trials for the vessel in July, followed by planned delivery in August.The new tug is the first in a series of six being built by the Anacortes, Wash. shipbuilder for scheduled delivery through early 2022. The YT 808 vessels are designed by Robert Allan Ltd. after the Navy’s existing YT 802 Valiant-class tugs to perform towing and ship-handling duties for carriers, surface ships, submarines and barges.

The U.S.' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it expects to award contracts for the construction of two new oceanographic ships by the end of the year. Once in service, the new large oceangoing, multi-mission research vessels will support missions ranging from general oceanographic research and exploration to marine life, climate and ocean ecosystem studies, NOAA said.“When completed, these new state-of-the-art ships will be vital for collecting high-quality data and leading scientific discoveries,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator.

Robert Allan Ltd. announced that  they have been awarded the contract from Ocean Industries Inc., a related corporation of Ocean Group Inc., to design a new generation of Ship Handling tugs to be built at the Ocean Industries Inc. shipyard at L'Isle-aux-Coudres, Quebec for the Royal Canadian Navy. Four tugs are to be built, with two delivered to each of Canada’s major naval bases, at Esquimalt, BC and Halifax, NS.Known as the Naval Large Tug (NLT) project, the new IMO Tier III vessels are based on a proven Robert Allan Ltd.

Canadian naval architectural firm Robert Allan (RAL) announced they have been awarded the contract from Ocean Industries to design a new generation of Ship Handling tugs.The new tugs are to be built at the Ocean Industries Inc. shipyard at L’Isle-aux-Coudres, Quebec for the Royal Canadian Navy, said a press release.According to the release, four tugs are to be built, with two delivered to each of Canada’s major naval bases, at Esquimalt, BC and Halifax, NS.Known as the Naval Large Tug (NLT) project, the new IMO Tier III vessels are based on a proven Robert Allan Ltd. RAmparts 2400 design which has been built in large numbers by Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey as well as three additional international shipyards.Varying power levels of this design are available.

The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) has welcomed Pyxis, a new 445-passenger ferry, into the San Francisco Bay Ferry fleet.Pyxis is the first new vessel added to Vallejo ferry service in some 15 years, said a release from the public transit passenger ferry service in the San Francisco Bay.Pyxis is the fifth new ferry WETA has added to its San Francisco Bay Ferry fleet since 2017. Carina, a 400-passenger ferry, entered service in February 2019. Hydrus, Cetus and Argo – all also 400-passenger ferries – joined the fleet in 2017 and 2018.“Vallejo ferry passengers are going to love riding Pyxis,” said Nina Rannells, WETA’s executive director. “Our ridership has doubled since 2012, and we are working to grow our fleet to accommodate this growth.

The U.S. Navy has ordered four new tugs from Anacortes, Wash. shipbuilder Dakota Creek Industries Inc., with options for two additional vessels. Construction of the series′ first vessel is expected to begin in early in 2019.The vessels will be a new version of the Robert Allan Ltd. designed Z-Tech 4500 tugs. The Navy already has six vessels of this design, known as the YT 802 Class, in service. This first group were delivered between 2010-2012 and are in use in the Pacific Northwest and Japanese waters.The new tugs will perform ship-handling duties for the full range of U.S.

San Francisco Bay Area ferry operator Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) is expanding its fleet with new vessels in order to meet large ridership increases. By 2035, WETA expects to add a total of 44 new vessels to meet anticipated demand, which is expected to increase by as much as 900 percent.As part of its larger fleet expansion strategy, WETA currently has three new ferries on order at the Dakota Creek Industries shipyard in Anacortes, Wash. that are due to enter service next year.

Rolls-Royce said it has won an order to deliver its first EPA Tier 4-compliant propulsion systems from MTU to WETA (Water Emergency Transportation Authority) for installation in three brand-new catamaran ferries. The first of the three high-speed ferries is expected to enter service on the San Francisco Bay in late 2018. The San Francisco Bay is subject to special environmental protection. “Our goal is to operate a ferry service that is sustainable, cost-efficient and eco-friendly,” said Nina Rannells, WETA Executive Director.

Aiming to support shipbuilding modernizations that will increase productivity and allow U.S. shipyards to compete more effectively in global markets, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded $9.8 million to 18 U.S. yards through its Small Shipyard Grant Program. “Small shipyards play a significant role in our country’s maritime sector, which contributes to our economy, security, and infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Today’s ATB play seemingly has legs for the long haul, as operators build and market needs fluctuate. The refined product trades are always in flux. Similarly, the supply patterns for products (and for chemicals derived from oil refining) are subject to constant change. At the same time, the distribution of refined petroleum products sees great benefit from the efficiency of Articulated Tug Barges (ATBs), which have the flexibility to adjust to dynamic supply programs between refineries and myriad distribution facilities dotting the coastline. It wasn’t always like that.

Domestic ferries adjust their business models to met regulatory pressures and exceed environmental standards with an eye towards improved service. And, not a minute too soon. In North America, stalwarts in the ferry business continue to shorten journey times compared to surface alternatives, while at the same time, bring accessibility to barrier and coastal islands that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Established stakeholders continually fine-tune their operations in a…

The aging Pacific Northwest fishing fleet is either undergoing or about to undergo a long-overdo upgrade, judging by a major economic report commissioned by the Port of Seattle. Fisheries managers, seafood suppliers, yards and the supply chain all hope an accompanying surge in ship finance “lifts all boats”. For now, the newbuild count is growing apace, slowed just a bit by owners opting for major retrofits amid rich fish harvests. This fisheries upsurge comes with some rising stars of ship design-and-build for vessels set to ply the Bering and Beaufort seas.

Seattle-based company Blue North has christened F/V Blue North, a state-of-the-art vessel designed to transform the fishing industry by improving conditions for workers, reducing environmental impact and harvesting seafood more humanely. Designed with sustainability in mind, the new longliner is geared specifically for the Alaskan cod fishery, built by Dakota Creek Industries, Inc. of Anacortes, Wash. from a design (ST-155L) by Norwegian firm Skipsteknisk AS. The new fish harvesting vessel…

I woke up the first night out of Anacortes, Washington, when the ship dropped out from under me and I levitated off my bunk. Then came the sound of shuffleboard in the conference room one deck above. The only trouble was, there's no shuffleboard on the research vessel Neil Armstrong. It was Halloween 2015 in the Northeast Pacific. We were in the first hours of the first voyage of the newest ship in the U.S. academic research fleet, and we were already plowing through 15-foot waves. But the ship’s motion made it feel more like we were facing much heavier seas.