Survey Boats News

Richard Balzano took over as CEO and executive director of the Dredging Contractors of America in December 2020. And while he says he’s “still fairly new to the [dredging] industry”, he certainly knows his way around the business, having held a number of prominent roles over the course of more than 30 years in the maritime and U.S government sectors. His resume is impressive. A combat veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, he retired from the U.S. Navy at the rank of Captain. He later served as the presidentially appointed Deputy Maritime Administrator for three years…

Autonomous vessel technology developer Sea Machines Robotics announced Wednesday it has closed a new $15 million financing round with significant participation by America's largest military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).The Boston-based tech company said it expects the investment and associated partnership with HII will accelerate the deployment of self-piloting technologies for unmanned naval boats and ships as the defense shipbuilding and technology giant continues…

William P. Doyle, CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA).William P. Doyle is the CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA). Twice a U.S. Senate confirmed Presidential appointee to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Doyle has, over the course of a long and celebrated career, successfully worn many hats. Prior to his FMC appointment, Mr. Doyle served on cabinet and executive level boards and committees under both the Obama and George W. Bush Administrations. Before that, he served as an officer in the U.S.

While there remains much debate as to what an autonomous future looks like in the maritime sector, one company, Sea Machines, is helping to pace the field with product development, partnerships and investment.Sea Machines Robotics announced today that it had closed a $10 million Series A investment led by Accomplice VC, with participation from several corporate titans including Toyota AI Ventures; Brunswick Corp., through investment partner TechNexus Venture Collaborative; Eniac Ventures…

Louisiana-based shipbuilder eliminates preheat and saves time with Dynasty 400 TIG welders.As a well-known shipbuilder specializing in the design and production of vessels, Metal Shark Boats doesn’t shy away from tackling tough and diverse jobs. It’s a philosophy that has fueled the company’s growth from small shop to major industry player.Launched more than three decades ago as a small family-owned operation crafting custom fishing boats, the transition to Metal Shark Boats began…

Tuco Marine Group said it has signed a contract with DALO (The Danish Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organization) to deliver two bespoke hydrographic survey boats to replace two existing survey vessels that have become obsolete. The new vessels, based on Tuco’s ProZero concept, have been designed to allow full use of the latest technology for hydrographic surveys. The boats are designed to accommodate two hydrography specialists in addition to a dedicated helmsman. The hull…

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…

North River Boats’ formula for success: anchored in a diverse portfolio and customer base. Tucked away in Roseburg, Ore., North River Boats began simply enough in 1974 by building jet powered boats to run shallow, technical white water rivers. Over time, the company also developed a solid reputation for jet boat designs. Later, as sport fishing regulations, seasons, and species evolved, North River expanded to build deep vee outboard powered recreational boats to fish larger rivers, estuaries and the ocean. The firm is also known for another reason: its diversified production of hulls, delivered to an equally wide range of clients, both domestic and foreign.

Sea Machines Robotics of Cambridge, Mass. announced the release of its Autonomous Control System (ACS), an advanced vessel control system which converts manually piloted hulls to self-piloted Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). It is designed to be integrated into company-developed Sea Machine USVs or other commercial production hulls. The ACS allows for seamless transition between unmanned and manned operations and can be integrated into most OEM vessels, including workboats, pleasure craft, launches, fishing vessels, survey boats, tugs and more.

U.K. Royal Navy Ice Patrol Ship HMS Protector is deployed on operations for 330 days a year, mostly in the Antarctic region, making it essential that her underwater hull is protected against the harsh icy conditions she faces. At the end of May, HMS Protector was coated with Ecospeed at the A&P Tyne Ltd. Shipyard in Tyne and Wear, U.K. A top consideration in a hull coating for ice-going vessels and icebreakers is the ability of the coating to protect the hull in the harshest marine environment there is…

NOAA today announced that Lake Assault Boats of Superior, Wisconsin, will build two small vessels for the Office of Coast Survey's navigation response program, part of a plan to eventually replace all six of the program's small survey boats. The combined cost of both 28-foot vessels is $538,200. "All of the navigation response team survey boats are nearing or have exceeded their designed service life," said Russ Proctor, division chief of Coast Survey's Navigation Services Division.

Jim Hannon is Chief, Operations and Regulatory Division for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). He also provides leadership and oversight for activities within the USACE Lakes and Rivers and North Atlantic Regional Integration Teams. Hannon is a member of the Society of American Military Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers and was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in July 2010. After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University in 1980, he began his career with the U.S.

CEO, Matthew Mullett, acquires complete control of All American Marine from founder partner Pat Pitsch. Mullett joined AAM as CEO in 1999 and has served as the managing partner of the shipyard since he became co-owner in 2003. Under Mullett’s leadership, the small boat builder has grown to become an award-winning and internationally known entity. Originally known for their 32’ aluminum bay boats and 6-pak charter boats, the company has since diversified their product line to include highly complex patrol boats, research vessels, survey boats, and high speed passenger ferries.

When vessel owners and operators opt to bite the bullet and invest millions of dollars into a new workboat, it is reasonable to assume that they will start shopping with the expectation of procuring the most boat that their Limited money can buy. Capital investments of this magnitude are often justified solely upon the premise that a new custom-designed vessel will have more functionality and thus greater revenue generating capability. Why buy a workboat unless it can pay for itself?

Milford Haven Port Authority has begun a trial of advanced C-Vu 3-dimensional VTS display software from GeoVS. The system has been installed to establish whether its clarity of presentation and viewing versatility can enhance situation awareness and ease of interpretation for the port’s vessel traffic controllers. The technology is unique in that it transforms a traditional two dimensional radar display into a three dimensional panorama in which, instead of appearing as featureless radar targets, vessels on the display appear as they really are.

NOAA Ship Rainier returns to Alaska to conduct sea floor surveys in support of safe navigation. NOAA Ship Rainier has begun a month long survey of the sea floor near Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island as part of a multi-year effort to update nautical charts for the area. In addition to supporting marine navigation, data acquired by the 231-foot hydrographic survey vessel will also support marine ecosystem studies and improve inundation models for areas vulnerable to tsunamis. “We are pleased to return to Alaska to continue these important surveys…

KMI Leasing Co., LLC recently added a new 30-ft. Rapid Response Skimmer – Wide version outfitted with a Kvichak/Marco Filterbelt oil recovery module to their lease fleet. The Kvichak 30’ rapid-response skimmer is a shallow-water capable, near shore skimming vessel suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays, and harbors. The all-aluminum skimmer is 31’ – 3” long, with a beam of 9' - 8", and a draft of 2’ - 6" and is easily trailerable. Powered by twin 90hp outboards, the skimmer is capable of a response speed of over 17 knots…

SeaArk Marine, Inc. recently delivered two 2610 survey boats to the Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District. The vessels are assigned to Pleasant Valley, Iowa and Lock and Dam 18 in Gladstone, Ill. The vessels are powered by twin Mercury Optimax, 225 hp outboard engines with side mounted dual controls and hydraulic trim tabs. These vessels can easily attain a top speed in excess of 34kts fully manned. All enclosed cabin spaces are fully insulated, air conditioned and heated.

The Redlinger and the Elton, both 60-ft Hysucraft (hydrofoil supported catamarans), are survey vessel sister ships designed and built for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. They are serving the Portland Oregon district. Redlingers mission is in Portland along the Columbia River. Eltons mission is in Astoria and out to the Columbia Bar. The vessels have a top speed of 35knots with a cruising speed of 30 knots at 80% power. They can survey at up to 15 knots but typically their work is done at 10 knots. The vessels are designed by Viking Fast Craft Solutions, LLC., Staunton Ill.

Zach McClendon, Jr. of Monticello, Ark. will celebrate being in the boat building business for 50 consecutive years this September. McClendon, along with his father, Zach McClendon, Sr. and another local businessman, Norris Judkins started MonArk Boat Company in May of 1958 building small aluminum jon boats using a shear and break press provided by Judkins. The company incorporated the next year, in August of 1959. MonArk Boat Company eventually grew to include a large recreational…

Fleet Survey Team (FST) took delivery of two 9-m SAFE Boat Defender-class survey boats on March 4. This delivery triples FST's organic boat inventory of C 130-deployable platforms. "These boats usher in a new and exciting era of FST surveying that will undoubtedly provide critical hydrographic information to the fleet for many years to come," said FST Commanding Officer Cmdr. Brian Connon. Prior to the delivery of the two Defender-class boats, FST primarily relied on its current lone FST 7-m rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) or boats of opportunity for conducting hydrographic surveys using single-beam sonar from Africa to . The Defender-class boats offer many advantages over previous survey boats and vessels of opportunity used in overseas surveys.

Boston can claim its new tunnel project as the "big dig", but the nearly $3 billion effort to dredge navigation channels in and around New York to 45 — and eventually 50 ft. — is the second largest USACE project; ever. However, with each 13-yd. bucket scoop of the bottom of Kill van Kull breaking above the water's surface and being unceremoniously dumped into an awaiting 4,000 yard scow — a process that takes all of 60 seconds — one quickly appreciates the engineering genius behind the behemoth from Liebherr, the entire vessel in fact, as it steadily works to deepen the navigation channel for the growing fleet of very large, very deep draft containerships that call on the ports of New York/New Jersey. Maritime Reporter recently ventured out into the harbor with the U.S.

Holyhead Towing has added another boat to its diverse fleet of tugs and workboats. Like most of the vessels in the fleet, the Afon Alaw is named after a river on the Island of Anglesey where the company's home port is located. This is the third vessel built for the company by Hepworth Shipyard of Paull, Kingston Upon Hull and will be the most powerful in a fleet that includes multicats, survey boats, fast crew boats and a large split hopper barge. The 83.6 x 29.5-ft. tug has a molded depth of 11.8 ft., which allows a shallow 7.8 ft. working draft, this is important as a major focus of Holyhead Towing's work is dredging and marine civil engineering support in shallow water. The company's work also includes pipelay support and cable work throughout North West Europe and the Caspian Sea.