New Alaska Boom Boats Designed for Spill Response

Rozema Boat Works in Mount Vernon, Wash., recently added two new vessels to the harsh environment of Alaska when it sent twin boom boats to Aleyska Pipeline Service Co.

The 31-ft aluminum boats are used at the Port of Valdez, Alaska to place and remove oil containment boom around tankers loading oil.

"That's a pretty demanding place for workboats up there," said Rozema. "They've seen how our boats get the job done for other operators, and that led to their order."

Rozema's all-aluminum boom boat is designed not just to work boom, but also to function as a spill response vessel in time of need. Featuring a planing hull form, the Rozema boats are 31 ft. long with a beam of 13 ft., and a draft of 3.5 ft. Each is powered by a pair of Cummins 280B diesels, providing a total of 560 hp to drive twin four-blade, 28-in. props through a Twin Disc 5050QA 2.5:1 gearbox, for a top speed of 21 knots. Hydraulic power drives booth a capstan and the boat's power steering.