Gulf Craft News

If nothing else, building vessels in the U.S. is a complicated business.In a session on the domestic shipbuilding marketplace, at Marine Money’s late-November 2023 conference held in New Orleans, Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards (with more than a dozen facilities, in Mississippi and Louisiana), described his company’s architecture as a “three-legged stool approach: commercial newbuilds, government newbuilds and repair/conversion capabilities”.On the same panel…

Franklin, La. shipbuilder Gulf Craft in December delivered WINDEA Intrepid, a new crew transfer vessel built for WINDEA CTV, a partnership between Hornblower Wind and MidOcean Wind.Designed by Incat Crowther and classed by Bureau Veritas, the 30-meter-long aluminum catamaran has capacity to carry 24 technicians, plus six crew. It is powered by four Volvo DI13 main engines that drive quad Volvo IPS propulsion units. The vessel is described as "hybrid-ready", meaning it has been…

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has recently announced an amendment to the Federal Ship Financing Program, commonly referred to as Title XI. The amendments have aligned the program’s financial requirements and tests with common current federal credit and maritime lending best practices. In particular, the amendments aim to move away from inflexible static metrics and Title XI’s limited amortization requirements. The amendments respond to concerns that previous terms acted as a barrier to some companies seeking to apply for Title XI support.

Franklin, La. shipbuilder Gulf Craft LLC in November kicked off construction on new Incat Crowther-designed passenger ferry for the U.S Virgin Islands.The new USCG Subchapter-K approved, 104-foot (32-metre) vessel will service the busy tourist and commuter route between Red Hook on the island of St. Thomas, and Cruz Bay on the island of St. John. Currently, two other Incat Crowther-designed 28-metre vessels service this route.The simple yet stylish new ferry will be designed with…

A fishing vessel has been converted to operate as a Jones Act compliant crew transfer vessel (CTV) in the U.S. offshore wind industry.Hornblower Marine announced it converted the former fishing vessel Nice Day Too for New Bedford, Mass. based Coast Line Transfers.The 59-foot-long Capt. Les Eldridge, which was originally constructed on the Gulf Coast, underwent extensive bow conversion and other vessel upgrades at Hornblower Marine’s Bridgeport, Conn. facility to provide necessary cargo and passenger loading space required to safely serve offshore wind platforms…

It’s a big deal when a U.S. president visits an American shipyard, and these trips always send a message. When President Obama spoke at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in 2013, he warned of the consequences of sequestration. President Trump’s 2020 speech at Fincantieri Marinette Marine touted a $5.5 billion naval contract that gave a welcome boost to the Wisconsin shipyard and its supply chain partners. Most recently, President Biden traveled to Philadelphia’s Philly Shipyard…

There's a new player in the Jones Act crew transfer vessel (CTV) market: Blue Ocean Transfers (BOT), based on Long Island, N.Y.The McQuilling-Partners-owned company is planning to build a fleet of CTVs to support the U.S. offshore wind industry as it ramps up to meet the Biden administration's goal of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030. "BOT is a marine logistics equipment manager, whose equipment is chartered and deployed by wind field developers and their suppliers," the company said in a statement.

A Jones-Act-compliant offshore supply vessel (OSV) has been converted for use as a crew transfer vessel (CTV) in the growing U.S. offshore wind industry.Windea CTV, a joint venture between MidOcean Wind and the Hornblower Group, said the vessel Gateway Endeavor was converted by Hornblower Marine in Bridgeport, Conn. Updates included the addition of a bow platform, forward and aft fendering systems, bow thruster, digital throttle controls, a new electrical system, removable railings and additional seating.

Much has changed since Marine News’ 2022 shipbuilding report published in March last year, and business opportunities in certain market segments continue to grow. But the shipyards that are looking to cash in are still facing many of the same challenges.For example, many American shipyards and their partners throughout the shipbuilding supply chain are still finding it difficult to attract and retain the workers they need. If you’re a skilled craftsperson looking for a job in shipbuilding, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of openings at shipyards across the country.

There are vessels on order today—including crew transfer vessels (CTV) being built in the U.S. (American Offshore Services at Blount Boats and for WINDEA CTV at St. Johns Ship Building and Gulf Craft, for example)—that are described as “hybrid-ready”. Of course, a vessel is either hybrid or it isn’t. So what does hybrid-ready mean?When asked about the hybrid-ready CTVs that Blount Boats is building, the shipyard’s president Marcia Blount told Marine News that the vessels’ Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system “is readily upgradeable to hybrid at any time in the future.

With travel and tourism nearing pre-2020 levels, and transit systems benefiting from a return to work, passenger vessels have seen renewed activity. In its year-end review, John Groundwater, Executive Director of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), which advocates for the sector in Washington, D.C. wrote: “As we are nearing the end of the calendar year, we are delighted to report that our industry, and our members, are reporting far and wide that they have experienced very…

Grant Pecoraro, is the U.S. managing director for naval architecture and marine engineering company Incat Crowther. The Australia-based firm’s Incat Crowther USA arm has been in business for over 10 years, and the broader Incat Crowther group is approaching 50 years in business. To date, Incat Crowther has delivered more than 650 vessels, with 130 vessels currently on the order books.Please give an overview of Incat Crowther’s U.S. presence as well as its offering to the American market.

Palatka, Fla. shipyard St Johns Ship Building this week held a keel laying ceremony for the second vessel in a series of new Jones Act compliant crew transfer vessels (CTV) it is constructing for WINDEA CTV to operate in the U.S offshore wind industry.WINDEA CTV, a partnership between Hornblower Wind and MidOcean Wind, earlier this year announced orders for three CTVs, including the two being built at St Johns Ship Building, plus another at Gulf Craft in Franklin, La.In the years ahead…

Diesel outboard engine manufacturer Cox Marine announced an expanded contract with UAE partner Gulf Yachts to cover additional regions as exclusive distributor.Gulf Yachts is increasing its territories beyond Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Lebanon to also distribute in UAE and Bahrain, and the new deal confirms the Doha-based company as the largest distributor of the CXO300 diesel outboard in terms of volume of sales.Appointed by Cox Marine in 2020, Gulf Yachts has a growing order book…

Incat Crowther has recently secured contracts to design three offshore Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) for the U.S. operator Windea CTV.Two of the CTVs will be built by St Johns Ship Building in Florida and one will be built by Gulf Craft in Louisiana.The vessels, which are 30m in length feature a large foredeck with a 23 t.m knuckle boom crane and container securing lugs. The vessels incorporate Incat Crowther’s patented Resilient Bow Technology minimizing boat landing impact forces. The  CTVs vessels will have a deadweight capability of more than 50 tonnes.

U.S.-based offshore wind crew transfer vessel company WINDEA CTV has started construction of three 30-meter hybrid-ready CTVs. Two of the Incat Crowther-designed CTVs will be constructed at St. Johns Ship Building in Palatka, Fla. and one will be built at Gulf Craft in Franklin, La. The CTVs are scheduled to be delivered in 2023 and will go immediately into service for GE Renewables. The vessels will first operate out of New Bedford, Mass., during the Vineyard Wind I construction…

The first two low emission EPA Tier 4 compliant 29-meter passenger ferries, named H401 and Curiosity, have been delivered for the still expanding NYC Ferry by Hornblower, said naval architect Incat Crowther, whose digital ship design package allowed identical vessel to be constructed at independent shipyards; Halimar Shipyard of Morgan City, La and Breaux Brothers Enterprises of Loreauville, La.The new vessels complement the 17 Incat Crowther designed 26-meter vessels and 14 29-meter vessels already been delivered to NYC Ferry.

A newly built multi-functional 30m catamaran passenger vessel, Coastal Explorer, has been delivered for a whale watching excursion operator in Bar Harbor, Maine.Built by Gulf Craft in Franklin, La., the vessel closely follows two predecessors delivered in 2018, Acadia Explorer and Schoodic Explorer and brings the operator’s number of Incat-Crowther-designed  vessels to five total.Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co will use the USCG Subchapter T certified vessel for whale watching excursions…

UAE builder Gulf Craft announced that the 54-metre concept Majesty 175 is currently being constructed by UAE builder Gulf Craft at the company’s Umm Al Quwain facility, with her delivery scheduled to the end of 2019.The completion process of the largest yacht “Made in UAE”, is going at a fast pace, said the manufacturer of luxury yachts and fiberglass boats."Originally introduced to the public during the Monaco Yacht Show in 2016, the 54 metres flagship is being built completely at the advanced facility in Umm Al Quwain. Scheduled for delivery by the end of 2019, the tri-deck 490-tonne mega yacht will have trans-Atlantic capability and over 4…

Louisiana shipbuilder Gulf Craft has delivered the third vessel in a series of new class monohull fast support vessels (FSV) for SEACOR Marine.According to designer Incat Crowther, the vessel Libby L. McCall advances the traditional offshore support vessel model and offers a more cost efficient, comfortable, flexible, and safe option to helicopter transportation.The vessel features redundancy to mitigate against down time or loss of functionality due to mechanical complications.

Humphree makes inroads in North American markets with vessel stabilization technology.If you haven’t yet heard of Humphree – the Sweden-based supplier of vessel stabilization systems – then, more than likely, that’s about to change. The firm’s penetration into the North American commercial and leisure marine market has seen its equipment on several vessels, including high-profile deployments like the new Seastreak high-speed commuting ferry.Founded in 2002 by a team of hydrodynamic and marine engineers…

Interceptors and Active Ride Control supplied by Humphree USA will help deliver a smooth and stable ride for the newest addition to the Seastreak ferry fleet.Seastreak Commodore, which was put into service this summer, is the biggest and fastest passenger ferry in the Seastreak fleet. The 150-foot catamaran can carry up to 600 passengers. The high-speed vessel makes daily commuter runs between Sandy Hook, N.J., and the East 35th Street terminal in New York City, with transit times of about 45 minutes.

A pair of multifunctional 29-meter catamaran passenger vessels, Acadia Explorer and Schoodic Explorer, have been delivered on the U.S. East Coast.Designed by Incat Crowther and built by Gulf Craft in Franklin, La. for Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co, the USCG Subchapter T certified vessels will be used for whale watching excursions, nature cruises and light house tours in the Acadia National Park and surrounding areas as well for providing tender services to cruise ships which frequent picturesque Bar Harbor…