Jet Propulsion Systems News

Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics announced has successfully commissioned an SM300 autonomous control system aboard a HamiltonJet-powered workboat in New Zealand.HamiltonJet is now trialing this marine technology and has offered to provide on-demand customer demonstrations in the Southern Hemisphere.The combination of Sea Machines and HamiltonJet systems for commercial vessels gives owners greater operational capability by enabling autonomous control of commercial vessels executing nearshore or coastal missions.The integration of water-jets delivers increased maneuverability, precise station-keeping and even emergency stops. The internal nature of a water jet drive also increases confidence when running autonomously and allows shallower-water operation.As well as offering full autonomy…

BRP’s Rotax Intelligent Shift and Throttle (iST) system was recognized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) with an Innovation Award in the Jet Boat category at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show. The game-changing iST option for Rotax jet propulsion systems brings electronic control to formerly mechanical functions. Now available on nearly all Scarab jet boat models and Chaparral Vortex models, iST allows boaters to optimize low-speed maneuverability in a variety of environmental conditions. Whether cruising, pulling, fishing or docking, the iST system gives boaters the confidence of being in full control so they can enjoy their time on the water.

Thrustmaster of Texas, a manufacturer of commercial marine propulsion products, signed a deal last week to expand its Houston-based production facility by 100,000 sqft (93,000 sq m). Thrustmaster said the multimillion dollar investment has been in the making for two years and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2015 by Third Coast General Contractors. The project includes plans to double the size of the product testing area, add an onsite paint and blast facility, develop a new fabrication shop…

Thrustmaster of Texas, a manufacturer of commercial marine propulsion equipment based out of Houston, closed out this year's OTC by placing ink to paper after signing a contract on the trade show floor with the Dutch Barge Company Thursday to supply a complete thruster package. The deal concluded at a press conference inside the Reliant Center hosted by Thrustmaster’s president, Joe Bekker, and Dutch Barge Company's Henk Kapitein. Thrustmaster is staged to supply a complete thruster…

More than a decade ago, deepwater oil production in the Gulf of Mexico surpassed shallow water output for the first time ever. These days, rigs are found hundreds of miles offshore. Companies need to get equipment, employees, fuel and mud to those sites economically and usually on a tight schedule. Gulf marine companies are trying to meet those requirements by increasing the speed, size and energy efficiency of their vessels--though not necessarily all at once. Shane Guidry, Chief Executive Officer of Harvey Gulf International Marine…

Armstrong Marine Delivers Highly Versatile Landing Craft to Arctic Marine Solutions in Seward, Alaska. This unique work boat features custom built, self contained modules which can be attached in the field to deliver freight, passengers, equipment or any combination of the above to the jobsite. The all aluminum 68’ x 18’ high speed landing craft was designed to deliver multiple payloads using the same platform. Three self contained, climate controlled passenger modules can be easily attached to the deck and allow up to 36 crew or passengers to be safely transported to the jobsite.

The Coast Guard of Taiwan has recently taken delivery of CG hull 123 and CG 125, which form part of Taiwan's 500 ton project. These two new vessels were built by Jong Shyn shipyard and are equipped with 4 x MJP 850 jets provided by Sweden-based MJP Waterjets. Comparing these new waterjets with the CP propellers of the preceding conventional ship, the results are striking. The new MJP propulsion arrangement is said to cost 40% less, while, at the same time, propulsion efficiency, fuel economy, acceleration and ship speed have been improved significantly.