Abyc News

Naval Architects can predict many things with great certainty. But the sea is an unpredictable task master and there are still a number of areas where it is difficult to get a technical handle on the problem.High speed planing boat stability is one of those areas.Planing hull design is incredibly complicated and dynamic behavior is actually more difficult to predict than the dynamic behavior of airplanes. (Let me say it again: Aerospace engineering (I am one) is sandlot compared to Naval Architecture).Meanwhile thousands…

Shipbuilder MetalCraft Marine said it delivered two 34-foot high performance patrol RIBs to be used by the Mississippi Department of Natural Resources Police in the coastal bay areas and offshore checking on commercial and sport fishing compliance.Each boat is equipped with triple Suzuki 300-horsepower outboards, enabling the vessels to reach speeds up to 64 miles per hour.According to MetalCraft, the Interceptor hulls are noted for their "Soft Dry Ride", with a fine entry which easily parts the waves and makes the boat very quiet.The vessels feature a robust T-top and supporting structure…

MetalCraft Marine has delivered a new patrol boat to the Port of Los Angeles. The new vessel is one of a new breed of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) detection patrol boats.According to the builder, the bow entry is the critical design feature of all Interceptor models. Its high-speed rough water performance allows the operators to go offshore to inspect incoming ships before they enter the port for nuclear and chemical hazardous contaminants.The boat is designed for rough water with structure design to ISO 12215 and stability to ISO 12217 Category B…

The Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) governs the intensity of navigation lights, requiring a minimum intensity in candelas according to a prescribed intensity formula. Changes are coming.IMO Resolution MSC.253 (83) for larger vessels sets performance standards for navigation lights, navigation light controller and associated equipment, requiring a masthead light, sidelights and a stern light installed on board a ship not less than 50 meters in length should be duplicated or be fitted with duplicate lamps…

Jensen Maritime Consultants, a Crowley company, said one of its workboat designs will be used by a Pacific Northwest boat builder to fulfill a construction project for the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). In support of the project, Jensen will supply a functional and regulatory design package for the 41-foot vessel, which will provide ship- and sub-assist services, as well as other port operational services at U.S. Navy port locations around the world. Jensen’s Bryan Nichols…

The NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) 2000 standards helped create a framework for safer, more reliable marine communications by streamlining the connectivity of boat engines, navigation, control, power distribution, water, waste and other mechanical and monitoring systems. Onboard connectivity translates into improved operator safety, better diagnostics, simplified maintenance and lower lifetime costs. Manufacturers recognize the value of electronics to distinguish their brand—and satisfy customers seeking connectivity at sea.

Marcia Kull has been named President of Torqeedo Group, Inc., and will direct global sales and strategy for the electric and hybrid marine propulsion systems manufacturer. Kull will oversee Torqeedo’s growth activities in the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. The newly created position is an expansion of the current management team. She will assume her new role on May 1, 2017. Kull joins Torqeedo from Volvo Penta of the Americas, where she was most recently Vice President, Marine Sales.

Willard Marine, Inc.was awarded a contract by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to produce a 20’08” rigid hull inflatable boat for the Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) to facilitate their fisheries and marine mammal research in the Pacific region. Willard Marine will provide a slightly modified version of their SEA FORCE 730, a military-grade, aluminum, rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) that is designed with a deep-V hull for maximum stability in the roughest sea conditions. The 20’08” research RHIB designed for NOAA is constructed in accordance with ABYC standards and Subchapter S requirements, and is fitted with both lift fittings and a lift sling that are designed for hoisting 6,700-pounds of weight with a 6:1 weight ratio safety factor.

Construction of FDNY’s newest fireboat, William M. Feehan, has been completed by shipbuilder MetalCraft Marine Incorporated, and is slated for delivery and christening in the coming weeks. The name of the new boat honors veteran firefighter William Feehan, who at 71 was the oldest of 343 firefighters to pass away in the line of duty on September 11, 2001. The vessel’s nameplate, displayed prominently alongside the cabin, is milled from an I-beam lifted from the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Willard Marine, Inc. unveiled its new SEA FORCE 777 this week at the Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney, Australia. The military-grade, fiberglass, rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) is 7.77-meters long, 2.74-meters wide and designed with a deep-V hull. The Steyr SE306J38 diesel engine with ZF-63 marine gear powering a Hamilton Jet drive HJ-274 provides 300 horsepower for a nine-member crew and can achieve 32 knots. Nine Ullman Dynamics shock-mitigating seats are installed.

At the opening of the 2014 PSP Southampton Boat Show today, Centek Industries of the U.S. announced the appointment of AJS Technical Services of Northants as the company’s technical sales representative for the United Kingdom. Centek celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. The company has designed, engineered and built more than 15,000 custom marine exhaust systems for yachts, workboats, military and law enforcement vessels worldwide. Centek’s engineering staff has more than 80 years of marine wet exhaust system design and innovation experience.

When the 172-year old tall ship Charles W. Morgan sets out on its historic 38th voyage on June 14, it will benefit from safety enhancements that were unheard of at the time of its construction – including a pair of Xantrex Freedom SW 24V - 3000W/75A inverter/chargers that deliver a full 6,000 watts of continuous electrical power. Built in 1841, the Charles W. Morgan is the last of an American whaling fleet that once numbered more than 2,700 vessels. Over an 80-year whaling career, it embarked on 37 voyages, most lasting three years or more. Retired in 1921, the ship was used as a set for two Hollywood films (Down to the Sea in Ships, starring a young Clara Bow, and Java Head, with Ralph Richardson and Anna Mae Wong).

Any vessel, whether commercial, recreational or military, benefits from the safety and security provided by high visibility. With the introduction of its new NaviLED PRO 5 nm masthead lamp, Hella marine now offers owners and operators a complete and ultra-durable navigation lamp package for vessels up to 150'. The year 2014 marks the tenth anniversary of the NaviLED PRO line gaining international certifications. Proven performers with a worldwide reputation for reliability, NaviLED PRO lamps boast IMO COLREG, USCG, RINA, ABYC A-16 and BSH approval.

Westlawn Institute of Technology, the not-for-profit educational affiliate of the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), welcomed RADM Gordon G. Piché USCG (Ret.) as Dean of Naval Architecture. Piché was also elected to Westlawn’s Board of Directors. Piché is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, with a BSE in general engineering. He holds an MSE in naval architecture and marine engineering and an MSE in engineering mechanics from the University of Michigan. “Gordon has already contributed highly important technical reviews to Westlawn’s new general structural engineering text as well as to a new aluminum text that is in the drafting phase, and to the student technical reference manual,” said Dave Gerr, Westlawn Director.

The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is able to extend its grant and scholarship program in Small Craft Design thanks to further funding from the Kathy & Jerry Wood Foundation. The funds were originally for three years, but an additional thirty thousand dollars was given to assist more students. Scholarships will be awarded on an ongoing basis until the grant funds are expended. "“The connections between Westlawn Institute, ABYC, and the history and goals of Kathy and Jerry Wood, are remarkable,”" said Sallie Hamrick, President of the Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation.

Tomorrow, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) kicks off a third summer season of alternative biofuel testing in an effort to further advance marine engine technology and find an alternative to fuel containing more than 10% ethanol as a result of its damaging effects on marine engines. The tests are funded by the Department of Energy which released a 2011 report on engines using E15 revealing performance issues like stalling, corrosion leading to oil or fuel leaks, increased emissions and damaged valves, rubber fuel lines and gaskets. These results reinforced the recreational boating industry’s concern that E15 is not a suitable fuel for boat engines.

Xantrex Technology has become a sponsoring partner of the IYRS, a marine trade and technology school offering full-time accredited programs in boat building and restoration, marine systems and composite technology. With campus locations in Newport and Bristol, R.I., IYRS students training for a marine-industry career will now enjoy a hands-on opportunity to work with the latest onboard AC power technology, thanks to the new Xantrex partnership and donations including two complete Freedom SW inverter/charger systems. Clark Poston, IYRS Vice President of Industry Development, said, “Our IYRS programs are experiential learning based and delivered in state-of-the-art labs with the latest equipment and technology.

The Tempest 50-FAC from Tampa Yacht Manufacturing (TYM) is designed to provide Patrol and surveillance in shallow coastal and riverine waters by day and night in marshy areas of creeks with shifting sand bars, with low draft, high maneuverability and speed. The vessel’s hull design, which includes forward center of projected planning area center to ensure controlled turning at extreme rudder angles at high speed for pursuit and evasion, is of conventional high speed modified-vee…

Foreign Demand For U.S. Military And Commercial Vessels Is Brisk; For Now. In the heavy shadow of possible sequestration-induced federal budget cuts, some U.S. companies are busy supplying vessels to overseas customers under the Navy’s Foreign Military Sales program and through private contracts to foreign government and firms. Demand for offshore oil vessels is strong. A big chunk of overseas business now is under the U.S. FMS, transferring defense equipment, services and training to other nations. Countries approved for the FMS pay for vessels themselves and/or with U.S. government help.

On the occasion of Metal Craft Marine’s 25th anniversary, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News ventured north, to the boat builder’s Kingston, Ontario headquarters, to discover the secret to its success. Metal Craft Marine is well regarded in maritime circles for designing and building high performance craft outfitted for the most demanding work conditions. While the company is diverse in its work scope and capability, its history lies in high-performance jet boats and its current core competency lies in the construction of tough fire boats and military boats for worldwide use.

Working on the high seas exposes all marine workers to life-and-death situations that landlocked individuals rarely face. One brief mistake or equipment failure can literally sink the ship. To prevent catastrophic losses, international rules and regulations, port authorities and insurance companies govern maritime safety for all types of vessels. Proper sea vessel and marine labeling improves safety by clearly marking all hazards, pipes and equipment. Labeling also explains proper maintenance and directions for startup procedures.

BRP begins a program to test butanol-extended fuel in a variety of recreational marine engines for Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office. Butanol-extended fuel will be tested as an alternative to gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E15). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted a waiver allowing up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline. According to industry test data published last October, E15 can cause significant damage to marine engines.

Livorsi has developed a navigation light with powerful LED lighting within a rugged low-profile housing. These popular LED Navigation Lights are used by performance, work boat and government boats a like. LED lights outlast and out shine regular incandescent bulbs. LED lights use up to 90% less energy; these Livorsi nav lights only consume 1/10th of an amp at 14 volts. This means a longer life and less rigging time switching out lights. These lights are to be used on any vessel up to 65 feet and have a visibility of 2 nautical miles.