Great Boats of 2000

Every year, MarineNews chooses a handful of vessels delivered in the past 12 months and bestows upon them the distinction of “Great Boats.” The boats are chosen for innovations in design, construction and utilization. Following are the 17 vessels or groups of vessels chosen as the Great Boats of 2000.

Alert, Attentive & Aware

Type: Prevention and response tugs

Builder: Dakota Creek Shipyard

Owner: Crowley Marine Services

Crowley Marine Services delivered Alert, Attentive, and Aware, a series of three 140-ft., 10,000-hp Prevention and Response Tugs (PRTs), to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Valdez, Alaska.

Specifically designed and developed for Alyeska, the boats will be used by Crowley in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System trade. Alert was deployed in February; Attentive was delivered in June, and Aware was delivered in July.

The PRT trio will join Alyeska's Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS), serving as tanker escorts in Prince William Sound. The group's focus is to prevent oil spills by assisting tankers in safe navigation through the Sound, and to protect the environment by providing rapid and effective response services to the Valdez Marine terminal and Alaska crude shippers.

During its sea trials, Attentive generated a bollard pull of 305,000 lbs. and a running speed of 17 knots. Equipped for fire fighting, emergency response and oil spill recovery, all three PRTs are powered by twin Caterpillar 3612B engines generating the combined 10,192-hp driving two Kamewa Aquamaster azimuthing thrusters.

The tugs' design scope was developed by Seattle-based Guido Perla and Associates; construction occurred at Dakota Creek Shipyard in Anacortes, Wash. for Vessel Management Services - a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime that owns and leases vessels. Design features include accommodations for up to 16 personnel, Schuyler fendering, a Markey TDS-40 towing winch, 3,000 ft. of oil recovery boom and on-deck stowage for two oil spill recovery skiffs.

America

Type: Pilot boat

Builder: Derecktor Shipyards

Owner: New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots

The New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots took delivery of America, the first of its new 53-ft. pilot boats built by Derecktor Shipyards in Mamaroneck, N.Y. The New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots operates in one of the busiest ports of the U.S. and keep its boats stationed near Ambrose Light, tied up to a mother ship. From there the pilot boats can quickly respond to calls from incoming ships as they approach.

America was designed by Camarc Small Ship Designs, a U.K. firm headed by Naval Architect Alistair Cameron. It is a modern boat with a fast efficient hull design that is designed to provide a top speed of 25 knots with an extremely smooth ride. The boat is built to be very maneuverable and boasts a series of safety features intended to aid the pilots in their tough daily duty: heated decks and handrails, forward raked windows on bridge for maximum visibility of deck area and of boarding pilots, port and starboard side doors for direct exit of pilot from the shelter of the deckhouse to the ship's boarding ladder.

There is also a MOB recovery system on the stern comprising a custom articulated platform and A-frame hoist with a rear steering station to maneuver the boat from the stern deck while performing MOB recovery. Pilots boarding ships by the traditional means of Jason's cradle or Stoke's ladder are constantly at risk and often end up in the water. This new MOB recovery system adds a significant margin of safety to pilot's operations. The new boat is powered by two Detroit Diesel 8V 2000 that drive two Hy Torq 29-in. props with a pitch of 35-in. A Northern Lights 12 KW generator provides power for the onboard systems including year-round climate control. Navigation equipment includes a Simrad digital chart plotter integrated with radar and GPS for extremely accurate positioning at all times.

The duty cycle is expected to be an average of 3,000 hours per year. Slow speed cruising will account for between 25-50 percent of the operating hours and the remainder will be at full service speed.

In the last few years Derecktor Shipyards have established themselves as a leading manufacturer of high speed ferries in North America. Among their recent deliveries is the Derecktor 45m - reportedly the largest fast passenger ferry built in the US - a turbine-powered ferry capable of a service speed of 53 knots, which makes it the fastest passenger-only ferry ever built in the world. Among the significant factors in the success of the vessels built by Derecktor are the very high standard of aluminum fabrication and machinery installations as well as the weight conscious approach to vessel construction.

Caribbean Express

Type: Cargo vessel

Builder: Sun State Marine Services Inc.

Owner: G&G Marine

Hvide Marine Incorporated (HMI) and subsidiary Sun State Marine Services, Inc. launched the first in a series of new cargo ships at its U.S. shipyard facility in Green Cove Springs, Fla. Constructed entirely on-site by Sun State Marine Services, Inc., the 190-ft. landing craft-type freight vessel is specially designed and suited for conducting trade with Bahamian and Caribbean markets with minimal or unimproved facilities. "The landing craft has a reinforced hull allowing use of unimproved landing sites such as beaches or boat ramps by actually grounding the forward part of the vessel," said Robert J. Coppedge, vice-president of Sun State Marine Services, Inc. "This 'ability-with-stability' gives the operator tremendous flexibility in accessing a wider diversity of service areas."

Christened M/V Caribbean Express, the vessel was built for G & G Marine, Inc., a Dania Beach-based ocean freight carrier located adjacent to Port Everglades in Southeast Florida. Steven Ganoe, president and CEO of G & G Marine noted, "We're proud of the fact we've added a new U.S.-built vessel to our freight service, but this particular ship design is also extremely practical with a ramped bow for roll-on/roll-off cargo and more than 6,100 sq. ft. of open cargo deck."

Chinook

Type: Pilot boat

Builder: Kvichak Marine Industries

Owner: Columbia River Bar Pilots Assoc.

Kvichak Marine Industries delivered Chinook to the Columbia River Bar Pilots Association of Astoria, Ore. The 72-ft. all-aluminum pilot boat replaced the 30-year-old Peacock.

Known for its extreme weather and turbulent waters, the Bar is where the Columbia River collides with the Pacific Ocean. The resulting conditions require a reliable, stable, and, at times, self-righting vessel to complete missions of transporting pilots successfully.

Designed by Camarc Ltd., the Chinook fits all these requirements. It will transport Columbia River Bar Pilots to and from seagoing vessels entering or leaving the Columbia River.

Propulsion for the 72 x 21 ft., 50 ton vessel is provided by twin DDA 16V2000 marine diesels rated for 1,285 hp @ 2,100 rpm, coupled to twin DDA 6619SC transmissions. The engines are in turn coupled to a pair of Hamilton 651 waterjets.

During trials the Chinook achieved a speed of 29 knots, fully loaded and with six crew aboard. The range of the vessel is 250 nautical miles @ 25 knots.

F.G. Walton Smith

Type: Advanced research catamaran

Builder: Eastern Shipbuilding

Owner: University of Miami

The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science received F.G. Walton Smith at its Virginia Key facility from Panama City, Fla.-based Eastern Shipbuilding. Designed as an advanced research catamaran boasting technologically-driven onboard laboratories, the all-aluminum vessel is capable of both shallow and deep-water marine and atmospheric research.

Named for the first dean and founder of the Rosenstiel School, the vessel will be used in combination with the University's new Center for Sustainable Fisheries, aimed at research and education to protect threatened fisheries.

Measuring 96 ft. with a 40 ft. beam and operating at a draft of 6 ft., the vessel was constructed inside a total aluminum fabrication building, with Timothy Graul & Associates of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., providing the vessel's design to the University for bidding purposes. F.G. Walton Smith accommodates 20 persons and holds both laboratories with both wet and dry spaces comprised of 800 sq. ft., with an added 800 sq. ft. of multipurpose space on the stern.

Power is provided by a pair of Cummins QSK 19 main engines rated at 760-hp each, connected to Servogear Model HD220HL variable pitch propeller systems, and generators are Cummins model 6BT5.9GM2 80 kW.

Flying Cloud

Type: High-speed catamaran ferry

Builder: Derecktor Shipyards

Owner: The Woods Hole & Martha's Vineyard Steamship Authority

The Woods Hole & Martha's Vineyard Steamship Authority took delivery, a week ahead of contract schedule, of Flying Cloud, a new Derecktor 134.5-ft. high-speed catamaran ferry built by Derecktor Shipyards in Mamaroneck, N.Y. The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority provides year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Service is provided from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven, and Hyannis to Nantucket. Seasonal service is also provided from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard.

Flying Cloud's speed during sea trials was in excess of 39 knots. The boat showed great stability and ride comfort thanks to its dynamic ride control system. Noise levels are contained on both passenger decks and on the bridge. The Steamship Authority plans to employ this vessel on the Hyannis Port to Nantucket route. Its service speed of 36 knots will allow a crossing time of less than one hour, significantly less than the traditional design ferries, which take over two hours to cover the same distance.

The vessel is powered by Paxman 12VP185 diesel engines driving Kamewa 71SII water-jets that provide a service speed of 36 knots with a full load of 300 passengers. Passenger accommodation is with aircraft quality seats on two decks with 171 passengers seated in a 3-3-3-3 arrangement on the main deck and 129 seated in a 4-4 configuration with a central lounge area on the upper deck. Exterior seating is also provided on the upper deck to allow passengers the option of open-air travel. The boat has a large bar on the main deck, is ADA friendly and has a four-season HVAC system capable of removing moisture from the air and eliminating window fogging. The pilothouse has 360-degree vision and is equipped with the latest and most up-to-date navigational equipment, including a night vision system that allows seeing ahead of the boat in total darkness.

A particularly critical issue for the Woods Hole Steam Ship Authority is the wake wash generated by the vessel when operating in the wash sensitive areas at either end of the route. The extremely low wash characteristics of the vessel assure a particularly low environmental impact.

Great Lakes Trader

Type: Bulk material carrier

Builder: Halter Marine

Owner: Great Lakes Marine Leasing

One of the most labor- and fuel-efficient bulk material carriers on the Great Lakes entered service in June. The self-unloading barge Great Lakes Trader is owned by Great Lakes Marine Leasing, Portland, Ore., and operated by VanEnkevort Tug and Barge, Bark River, Mich. The 740 x 78 ft. (226 x 24 m) Trader is the largest vessel capable of fitting through the St. Lawrence Seaway locks. Combined with the 10,200-bhp (7,600 bkW) tug Joyce L. VanEnkevort, the new integrated tug/barge (ITB) unit is the biggest dual-mode ITB on the Great Lakes.

The 39,600 long ton (40,234 metric ton) capacity Trader was designed by a team of engineers directed by navel architect Joe Fischer, president of Bay Engineering, Inc., Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. Halter Marine built the vessel in two halves at its Pearlington, Miss., facility and finished it at their Gulf Repair Yard in New Orleans, La. The self-unloading design incorporates internal gravity-fed gates leading to a hydraulically driven single-belt Ems-Tec conveyor system capable of unloading 6,000 long tons (6,096 metric tons) of iron ore pellets, coal, or crushed limestone per hour.

This efficient ship unloading system receives power from seven Cat 3406C engines rated 462 bhp (345 bkW) at 1,800 rpm. The 3406s drive Rexroth and Vickers multiple pump hydraulic drive units. This arrangement, with multiple engines rather than one or two larger engines, allows greater flexibility in the barge's operation. Engine service is easier to coordinate, and the crew operates only as many engines as are needed. Barge electrical power is provided by a Cat 3406C gen set rated 260 ekW at 1,800 rpm. Cat Dealer Ohio Engine Power, Cleveland, Ohio, provided all pump engines for Great Lakes Trader, and Cat Dealer FABCO Engine Systems, Green Bay, Wis., provided the generator set.

Highland Scout & Highland Guide

Type: Offshore supply vessels

Builder: Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co.

Owner: GulfMark Offshore

In early 2000, Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. completed construction and delivery of two 217.5-ft. offshore supply vessels for GulfMark Offshore, a Houston, Texas-based owner and operator of platform and anchor handling supply vessels in the North Sea, Singapore and Brazil. The two vessels, Highland Scout and Highland Guide, each have dimensions of 217.5 x 54 x 20 ft. and are powered by two Caterpillar 3606 main propulsion engines with controllable pitch propellers and high-lift flaps rudders. They are each equipped with a 750 hp controllable pitch bowthruster and a 450 hp controllable pitch stern thruster.

The vessels' cargo capacities include 8,000 cu. ft. of bulk mud, 4,000 barrels of liquid mud, 185,000 gallons of fuel; 300,000 gallons of fresh/ballast water, and 1,200 tons of deck cargo. GulfMark is using the vessels to carry more than 2,800 tons each of provisions, fuel, water, liquid mud and bulk mud to offshore rigs and platforms worldwide.

Horizon

Type: Passenger dinner cruise vessel

Builder: Blount Industries

Owner: Pegasus Yacht Cruises

The 600-passenger dinner cruise vessel M/V Horizon was delivered to Pegasus Yacht Cruises of New York by Blount Industries on March 5.

Measuring 161 ft. (49 m), Horizon boasts a welded steel, single chine hull with three enclosed dining decks, with all superstructure above the second deck is 100 percent aluminum construction. New Jersey-based Robinson Interiors designed Horizon with old world ambience in mind - its dining room features varnished cherry wood paneling and trim.

The vessel is powered by two owner-supplied Detroit Diesel 16V-92 engines, soft mounted for silent operation with Lo-Rez vibration mounts and couplings. Electric engine controls by Mathers provide throttle and gear control, while a Murphy alarm panel monitors the propulsion engines. Twin 200 kW Detroit Diesel 6V-92 generators supply electrical power for the vessel's services via a split bus switchboard. A dedicated Detroit Diesel 4-71 engine provides power for a 125-hp, 22-in. diameter hydraulic bow thruster, while steering is achieved by an Autonav Electro-hydraulic steering package with duplicate hydraulic pumpsets.

Two Rheem 18 kW water heaters provide 240 gallons of hot water to all the heads, bars, galley and other onboard services. An 80-ton Dunham-Bush Chiller, with a 60 kW boiler, provides the vessel's HVAC system.

Horizon's Edge

Type: Dinner/casino boat

Builder: Washburn & Doughty Associates

Owner: Horizon's Edge Casino Cruises

In June, Washburn & Doughty Associates delivered its largest vessel to date - the 186-ft. dinner/casino boat Horizon's Edge. Bruce D. Washburn of Washburn & Doughty teamed up with John D. Gilbert Associates Inc. to design the vessel, which is already in full and successful operation. Since ensuring the comfort of the 500 passengers on board was a main concern to both the builders and operator Horizon's Edge Casino Cruises, the vessel was designed to handle offshore conditions with heavy gaming equipment on board. The vessel, which measures 186 ft. by 38 ft. by 10 ft. 9 in., has a cruising speed of 15 knots.

The vessel is powered by two Caterpillar 3508B DIT main engines, each rated 1,100 bhp at 1,800 rpm. An American Bow Thruster "Trac Series" dual propeller 28-in. diameter unit, powered by a 200 hp variable frequency electric motor, enhances maneuverability.

Maui Magic

Type: Aluminum catamaran

Builder: Kvichak Marine Industries

Owner: Maui Classic Charters Inc.

Kvichak Marine Industries delivered the Maui Magic, a 54-ft. all-aluminum catamaran, to Maui Classic Charters Inc. of Kihei, Hawaii. It will operate out of Maalaea Harbor in Maui.

After donating the Lavengro, a 1926 schooner, to The Northwest Schooner Society of Seattle, MCC decided to build a new vessel in order to maintain their fleet size. The company chose a catamaran design from Morrelli & Melvin, of San Diego, Calif. and Kvichak Marine as their builder.

Maui Magic has a beam of 17 ft., and is USCG approved for 71 passengers plus a crew of four. Powered by twin Cummins 6CTA diesel engines, driving 28-in. stainless steel propellers through ZF IRM 305A marine gears, Maui Magic will cruise at about 20 knots with a top speed of about 22 knots.

Maui Magic will travel to Molokini Crater and the rugged Maui coastline for snorkeling and sightseeing tours.

Additional Maui Magic features include: an upper deck with a passenger capacity of 18; swim platform; boarding ramp; 400 gallon fuel capacity; and two marine heads.

The Maui Magic is the second Morrelli & Melvin catamaran Kvichak has delivered to Hawaii. Their first delivery was the 54' x 14' Ocean Explorer for Pacific Whale Foundation, also of Kihei.

Kvichak is currently constructing a third catamaran built to a Morrelli & Melvin design. Scheduled for delivery in December 2000, the 54 x 14 ft. cat is for Atlantis Submarines.

Millennium Falcon & Millennium Star

Type: Z-drive tugs

Builder: Marco Shipyard

Owner: Harley Marine Services

Millennium Maritime, a subsidiary of Harley Marine Services, began providing ship assist and escort services to the Los Angeles harbor this year with two new 4,400 bhp (3,282 bkW) Z-drive sister tugs designed and built by Marco Shipyard.

In April the company took delivery of Millennium Falcon, and Millennium Star entered service in September. The 105 ft. tugs are powered by two Cat 3516B marine diesel engines, each rated 2,200 bhp (1,641 bkW) at 1,600 rpm, supplied by N C Power Systems, Seattle. The electronically controlled Cat engines drive Ulstein stern Z-drive propulsion systems with 94.5 in. four blade propellers inside Ulstein high performance nozzles.

The boats are equipped with two Cat 3304B gensets rated 105 ekW at 1,800 rpm. Front power takeoff (PTO) hydraulic drives on these engines power the vessels Burrard deck winches.

The Burrard HJD double drum tow winches hold 2,200 ft. of 2 in. diameter wire and 2,000 ft. of 2.25 in. wire, providing 45,000 lbs. of mid-drum pull at 62 ft. per minute. The model HE headline winches have a mid-drum pull of 14,700 lbs. at 138 ft. (42 m) per minute and carry 500 ft. of 3 in. diameter Vetstran line.

Nina's Dandy

Type: Dinner cruise vessel

Builder: Freeport Shipbuilding

Owner: Dandy Cruises

A unique dinner cruise vessel, Nina's Dandy, was delivered to Dandy Cruises for service on the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C. area. The vessel was designed by DeJong & Lebet Inc., Naval Architects and was built by Freeport Shipbuilding, Freeport, Florida.

The 135 x 40 ft. vessel's low profile allows access the upper parts of the river, past several low bridges. Nina's Dandy has an air draft of only 16.5 ft. It is USCG Certified under Subchapter K for 300 passengers and crew, and measures less than 100 gt.

Many of the design features for this vessel are the direct result of the low bridge clearance requirement. The vessel's large galley and restrooms are located in the hull. The vessel is very wide, in order to create enough dining area on the main deck, which is the only deck where a dining room could be located. This required a unique hull design by DeJong & Lebet Inc. in order to get the vessel deep enough in the water to clear the bridges.

Nina's Dandy is powered by a pair of Cummins NTA-855 diesel engines rated 350 hp @ 1,800 rpm driving a pair of Rice five-bladed propellers through Twin Disc MG-5111 gears. Electrical power is provided by a pair of Cummins 6BTA generators @ 95 kW. A 16 in., 80 hp American Bow Thruster, is electrically powered off a third genset. Controls and motors for the bowthruster were furnished by SCR Engineering. The vessel carries 35 tons of air-conditioning by Marine Air.

The vessel carries 6,000 gallons of water, 5,000 gallons of fuel, and 5,000 gallons of sewage.

Port of Corpus Christi

Type: Fire response vessel

Builder: Steiner Shipyard Inc.

Owner: Port of Corpus Christi Authority

Steiner Shipyard, Inc., of Bayou La Batre, Ala., delivered the 110 x 30 x 9 ft. fire response vessel Port of Corpus Christi to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority in December 1999.

The vessel, designed by Schuller & Allan, Inc., is equipped with two Gould 3410 pumps producing up to 4,000 gpm, a Schwing model GLA85 articulated fire boom, four Williams 6-in. 2,000 gpm fire monitors, a Hydro-chem 6-in. 2,000 gpm boom nozzle assembly, and two Edwards 306-308 foam pumps producing 60 hp each.

Main propulsion is provided by a pusher tug, but the vessel is also self-propelled by two Thrustmaster TH200R azimuthing, retractable thrusters powered by a Detroit Diesel 6V-92TA DDEC III engine producing 420 hp at 1,900 rpm.

Rig Runner & Delta Runner

Type: Offshore supply vessels

Builder: Breaux's Bay Craft

Owner: Crewboats Inc.

Crewboats Inc., Chalmette, La., is increasing its fleet of fast aluminum offshore crew/supply vessels with four new boats capable of 28-knot speed carrying up to 72 passengers and 235 long tons of supplies. The 5,600 bhp (4,176 bkW) vessels were designed and are being built by Breaux's Bay Craft, Loreauville, La.

Two 152 ft. vessels were launched in 2000. Rig Runner entered service in March, and Delta Runner began operations in June. The third boat - a 162 ft. vessel for a customer with increased deck load requirements - and another 152 ft. OSV are scheduled for delivery in 2001.

"These are some of the fastest vessels in the Gulf," says Shane Pescay, Crewboats' vice president. "Our customers - both in deep water and in shallow and shelf work - are demanding heavier loads. More power allows us to carry these heavier loads with good speed, but for us, the main issues are longevity and reliability of the engine packages." Four Cat 3512 marine engines - each rated 1,400 bhp (1,044 bkW) at 1,800 rpm - power the vessels. The 3512s drive Hy Torq 48 x 53 in. propellers through Twin Disc 2.5:1 gears.

Each vessel will also carry three Cat 3306B engines. One, rated 250 bhp (186 bkW) at 2,200 rpm, powers a Thrustmaster tunnel bow thruster, with a front engine PTO drive for a Berkley fire pump supplying an Elkhart fire monitor. Two Cat 3306B gensets rated 75 ekW at 1,200 rpm supply three-phase electrical power.

Crewboats' local Cat Dealer, Louisiana Power Systems of Belle Chase, La., is providing all engines, marine gears and generators for the four new crew/supply vessels.

Supply carrying capacities include 235 long tons deck cargo, 15,514 gallons fuel, and 31,139 gallons fresh water.

Salacia

Type: Aluminum catamaran ferry

Builder: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding

Owner: Boston Harbor Cruises

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, the Duclos Corporation, delivered M/V Salacia, a new all-aluminum catamaran to join three other high-speed ferries built by the shipyard for Boston Harbor Cruises.

The new vessel measures 147 ft. on the deck and 39 ft. abeam. Carrying 597 passengers, the ferry is the fastest of its class in the U.S., shipyard officials said.

Designed for commuter service, whale watching and passenger coastal excursions, the ferry's design resembles that of a modern megayacht.

"The owner plans to charter the boat for coastal cruise, and therefore wanted an especially distinctive design, which also optimizes the use of functional space," explained Peter Duclos, who heads the shipyard's business development. The vessel's forward windows, for example, are vertical, rather than the sloped type generally found on most fast ferries, to allow for more interior space. Interior accommodations include eight heads, lounge area, a cocktail and food service bar, and upholstered seating and tables. Powered by four Caterpillar 3512B diesel engines, each delivering 1,950 hp and driven by KaMeWa-A56 water jets through ZF BW 465D gearboxes, the vessel reaches a top speed of 36 knots when fully loaded with 54 dwt, while only consuming .02 gallons of fuel per passenger-mile. It is equipped with a Maritime Dynamics active motion control system. The system operates a computer, which, connected to accelerometers in the hulls, measures the vessel's motion. The computer then calculates the angle of the vessel's hydraulic trim tabs to counter its pitch, roll and yaw, thus reducing the vessel's motion as much as 60 percent, resulting in greater passenger comfort and minimal loss of speed in rough seas.

Surrie Moran

Type: Z-drive tug

Builder: Washburn & Doughty Associates

Owner: Moran Services Corporation

On Oct. 5, Washburn & Doughty Associates of East Boothbay, Maine delivered Surrie Moran, the last vessel in a six-boat contract, to Moran Services Corporation in Greenwich, Conn. The Surrie Moran is a 92 x 32 x 14 ft., 4,000 hp Z Drive Tug. The Surrie Moran will join the other members of the Marci Moran Class in Norfolk, Va. where it will be used for submarine and ship assist work in fulfillment of Moran's contract with the Military Sealift Command. The other boats in the Marci Moran Class are Marci Moran, Karen Moran, Susan Moran, Tracy Moran, and Wendy Moran.

The Washburn & Doughty contract with Moran was originally signed on Nov. 11, 1998. Moran took delivery of the first tug, Marci Moran, on Sept. 26, 1999.