Class Ocean News

Shipbuilder Austal USA announced it is planning to boost capacity at its Mobile, Ala. shipyard with the addition of a new manufacturing facility.The infrastructure expansion, which will be to the south of Austal USA’s current waterfront facility, will include a new assembly building, waterfront improvements, and a new Pearlson-designed shiplift system. Start of construction on the project is planned for summer 2024.The construction of this new building and waterfront support area continues the expansion Austal USA began in March 2021 with the groundbreaking of the steel panel line.

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA announced it has been awarded a contract potentially worth more than $3 billion for the detail design and construction of new TAGOS-25 class ocean surveillance ships for the U.S. Navy.The $113.9 million fixed-price incentive (firm target) and firm-fixed-price contract includes options for detail design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ships which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $3.195 billion.Austal…

More than 30 vessels carrying over 14,000 passengers in total chose to call in at Falmouth Cruise Port, Australia as part of their 2019 programme and even more have already booked for next year.The cruise ship operations are managed by FDEC (Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company) which is part of the A&P Group. FDEC is a statutory harbour authority, responsible for the area of water immediately surrounding Falmouth Docks. FDEC offers a range of services including cruise ship operations, quayside storage, letting facilities, towage services and cargo handling services.Drystan Jones, Port Operations Director of FDEC, said: “We already have a 20 per cent increase in cruise ship visits booked in for 2020 with a number of the ships staying overnight…

Crowley Maritime Corp.’s offshore services group has delivered Shell’s Appomattox semi-submersible Floating Production System (FPS) to the open waters of the U.S. Gulf from Kiewit Offshore Services' construction facility in Ingleside, Texas.Making the tow-out possible were Crowley’s Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun tugboats, which worked together on behalf of customer Heerema, alongside other third-party assets to deliver Appomattox.Demonstrating both nearshore and offshore capabilities, the company’s ocean class tugs safely towed the FPS through the Aransas Channel, then disconnected and provided escort services to the deep-water installation site.

Marine News showcases the best of North America’s 2017 workboat deliveries. There is something for everyone. Notwithstanding the lingering offshore energy downturn, there were plenty of bright spots for North American shipyards in 2017. If a hull was delivered in 2017, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For starters, it is always exciting when a domestic yard delivers a vessel – or multiple vessels, for that matter – to foreign buyers. We can compete in a foreign arena; on price, quality and on-time delivery. This year was no different. No less important is the environmental footprint of a vessel, and there was plenty to report on from that angle in the past 12 months. The domestic waterfront is indeed getting greener and cleaner.

Crowley Maritime Corp.’s ocean class tugboats and 455-series high-deck strength barges recently played an integral role in the tow-out and installation of Hess’ Stampede tension-leg platform (TLP) in the deep waters of the U.S. Gulf. Demonstrating both nearshore and offshore capabilities, six Crowley vessels worked together alongside other third-party assets to deliver the oversized, overweight platform, tendons and other equipment from the Kiewit facility in Ingleside, Texas, to the site of the Stampede floating production facility, about 150 miles offshore in 3,400 feet of water.

Nicole Foss, the final of Foss’ three new state-of-the-art Arctic Class tugs designed to operate in the extreme conditions of the far north, was christened last week at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Wash. The vessel was built at the Foss Rainier, Ore. shipyard and will enter service this summer. Foss president and CEO John Parrott made opening remarks, praising the hard work and dedication of the people, designers, and customers that made the project possible. Scott Merritt, chief operating officer of Foss also spoke, praising the team at the Rainier Shipyard.

The second of three new state-of-the-art Arctic Class tugs, the Denise Foss, was christened June 1, 2016 at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Wash. Built at the Foss Rainier, Ore. Shipyard, the Denise is designed to operate in the extreme conditions of the far north, and will enter service this summer. Foss COO John Parrott conducted opening remarks. Parrott applauded the hard work and dedication of the people, designers, and customers that made this project possible. He also introduced Denise Tabbutt…

1777 - During the American Revolution, the Continental lugger Surprise, led by Capt. Gustavus conyngham, captures the British mail packet Prince of Orange and the brig Joseph in the North Sea. 1898 - During the Spanish-American War, U.S. Marines from cruisers Baltimore and Raleigh (C 8), raise US flag over Cavite, Philippines. 1942 - USS Spearfish (SS 190) evacuates naval and military officers, including nurses, from Corregidor before surrendering island to Japan. 1944 - USS Flasher (SS 249) sinks the Japanese freighter…

Inmarsat together with Global Marine Networks and Network Innovations, today announced the successful trial and subsequent commercial order for Fleet Xpress in Antarctic waters. Fleet Xpress, installed on board the adventure cruise ship Ocean Nova, delivered robust communications in one of the most hostile environments on the planet. Fleet Xpress, the hybrid Ka and L-band service using Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network, delivers the world’s first globally available high-speed broadband service from a single network operator. The trial was successfully conducted on board the 1992 built ice class Ocean Nova, owned by Nova Cruising Ltd and operated by Nova Logistics, a polar expedition specialist.

On April 20, Damen gave a sneak preview of its newly designed second generation offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) during the annual OPVs & Corvettes Asia Pacific conference in Singapore. Damen’s Design & Proposal Manager Piet van Rooij explained how this new OPV has been configured for various missions. According to the designer, this new generation of reconfigurable Damen OPVs is highly efficient and incredibly versatile. Damen’s Sea Axe hull shape is used for these second generation OPVs for improved seakeeping and low heave accelerations.

The first of three Arctic Class tugs being built at the Foss Rainier, Ore. Shipyard was christened Thursday, April 9, at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Wash. The vessel, the Michele Foss, will see its first assignment on an oil field sealift this summer from South Korea to the Alaskan Arctic. Mike Magill, Vice President of Foss' Technical Services, made opening remarks at the christening, praising the hardworking men and women who constructed the vessel. "As we know, a construction project of this magnitude requires significant teamwork to accomplish," Magill said.

Beloved ocean liner Queen Mary turns 80 on September 26, and the public is invited to join a ship-wide celebration. The Queen Mary will open her gangways and ballrooms, decks and salons, attractions and eateries to a daylong celebration. There will be no charge for admission to the ship (10 a.m. - 7 p.m.), discounted ship tours and $5 parking. Commemorations will include the reading of letters by King George V at the ship's launch on Sept. 26, 1934, and a recent congratulatory message from Queen Elizabeth II on the ship's 80th anniversary.

The iconic trans-Atlantic liner Queen Mary turns 80 on September 26 and the public is invited to join a ship-wide celebration. The Queen Mary will open her gangways and ballrooms, decks and salons, attractions and eateries to a daylong celebration highlighted by a very special event. There will be no charge for admission to the ship (10:00 AM - 7:00 PM), discounted ship tours and five dollar parking. The general public — especially Long Beach residents and families — are encouraged to join the festivities. Commemorations will include the reading of letters by King George V at the ship's launch on Sept. 26, 1934, and a recent congratulatory message from Queen Elizabeth II on the ship's 80th anniversary.

Once again displaying their diversity for use in the domestic petroleum industry, one of Crowley’s four ocean class tugs, Ocean Sky, recently provided back-up station-keeping and holdback services during a routine blackout test of ultra-deepwater, semisubmersible oil rig Noble Jim Day in U.S. Gulf of Mexico. This Shell-leased, Noble-owned rig is currently operating in about 9,600 feet of water in the 508 section of Walker Ridge as part of the Stones Prospect. As part of routine blackout testing…

DNV GL congratulates ALP Maritime Services on the development of its next-generation “ALP Future Class” ocean going tugs. The vessels, developed by Ulstein Design & Solutions in close cooperation with ALP Maritime Services (ALP), are SX157 design with a 300-ton bollard pull, capable of operating at full loads for 45 days without refuelling. ALP, which was recently acquired by Teekay Offshore, has contracted Niigata Shipbuilding & Repair yard to build four vessels. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2016. According to Bas Veerman, DNV GL Customer Service Manager (BeNeLux), the “ALP Future Class” vessels have a number of specialised notations.

Oil and gas—and also mining—are the drivers today propelling Arctic maritime operations and the construction of new vessels able to operate in extreme latitudes. While the gas and oil resources can be recovered in the Arctic or far north and shipped to markets by sea or pipeline, the cost of doing must be balanced upon the global market price for those commodities. Ships and marine structures able to operate in the harsh conditions of the extreme latitudes require special designs and construction techniques.

On the heels of the recent delivery of Olympus, the largest tension-leg platform ever to be developed for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Crowley has once again shown support for the domestic petroleum industry by providing ocean towing and positioning support services for the Lucius spar in the Gulf of Mexico for Anadarko Petroleum. Three of Crowley’s ocean class tugs, Ocean Wind, Ocean Wave and Ocean Sun, towed the 605-foot long, 110-foot wide spar from Corpus Christi, Texas, through the Ingleside Channel and out to Keathley Canyon Block 875 some 300 miles offshore.

McDonough Marine Service announced the launching of the MARMAC 302, the first of two new 300’ x 100’ x 20' ABS Class ocean going barges commissioned by the barge and marine transportation company. The barges were designed by Dan Jones & Associates with an ABS Load line maximum cargo capacity of 13,200 short tons at 15.7’ draft. The uniform deck strength of 4,500 lbs/sq. ft., combined with a increased side shell strength, provides clients with maximum hull protection. Additionally…

The latest addition to the Brazilian Navy’s fleet departed the UK in the snow for her new home in Rio de Janeiro where she will strengthen Brazil’s maritime security. Apa is the second of three Amazonas Class Ocean Patrol Vessels being delivered to the Brazilian Navy by BAE Systems. Her sister ship, Amazonas, completed the crossing last year, while the final ship, Araguari, will be handed over in June. BAE Systems employees and the Brazilian Navy support team, who are working in partnership to deliver the class of ships, gathered on the dockside at HM Naval Base Portsmouth where she departed.

Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm, Jensen Maritime, announce delivery of the 'Hawaii', the first of two 120’ x 35’ x 19’ Jensen-designed ABS machinery class ocean-going tugboats, to Hyak Maritime, a marine equipment and vessel owner based in Dover, Delaware. The Hawaii was built by JT Marine of Vancouver, Wash. Hyak’s second tug, the Washington, is scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2013. The Hawaii and Washington are based on the successful Titan-class tugboats, which Jensen developed alongside Western Towboat, a Seattle-based tug and barge company.

The newest ship in the Brazilian Navy’s fleet departed the U.K. on a journey of more than 10,000 miles to Brazil. Araguari is the third of three Amazonas Class ocean patrol vessels delivered to the Brazilian Navy by BAE Systems. She is designed for maritime security, as well as being able to support humanitarian relief and search-and-rescue operations. Her two sister ships, Amazonas and APA, were delivered by BAE Systems last year and have already begun operations in Brazil. They have recently played an important role in the security operation for the visit to Brazil by Pope Francis.

Acquisition combines leaders in marine radar signal processing. Rutter Inc. (TSX: RUT) is pleased to announce it has acquired OceanWaveS GmbH of Lüneburg, Germany, a recognized industry leader in the development and supply of radar-based wave and surface current measurement technology. Rutter’s sigma S6 and OceanWaveS’ WaMoS are respected within the industry for discrimination of ice, oil, small targets, waves, currents and bathymetry from conventional navigational X-band radar. Combining OceanWaveS’ wave and current measuring capabilities with Rutter’s sigma S6 Ice Navigator will give Rutter a competitive edge in a growing offshore and coastal monitoring market.