House Barge News

Florida based shipbuilder St. Johns Ship Building (SJSB) launched a newly built 190-foot landing craft vessel for owner Bahamas Ferries on July 28. Designed for transport in the Bahamian islands, the vessel the Grand Master II is outfitted for Caribbean transport with a forward, hydraulic bow ramp and 6,400 square feet of cargo space. Twin 700 HP Cummings QSK19 with Schottel rudder propellers power the Grand Master II. The vessel will also include a 22 inch electric Westmar bow thruster and two 99 KW John Deer generators.

Nichols Brothers Boatbuilders are building a highspeed catamaran ferry for San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation district. Designed by International Catamaran Designs (INCAT) of Sydney Australia, this will be Nichols Brothers 27th U.S. built highspeed catamaran. The vessel will be 139 ft. overall with a 34-ft. beam and draft of 9 ft. The individual hulls will have a beam of 9 ft.. A 37-knot speed is predicted with four 16-cylinder Cummins KTA50-M2 main engines delivering 1,600 hp each at 1800 rpm. Each IMO emission certified engine will drive a Hamilton model 571 water jet through a ZF Marine BU 460D marine gear. Electrical service will be provided by a 125 kW generator set powered by a Cummins Marine 6CT8.3DM engine.