Vigor Completes Works on USCGC Vessel Ahead of Time
Vigor Alaska, a Titan Company, successfully completed a dry dock and repair work solicitation on U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick this month, returning it to service ahead of schedule.The $3.65 million contract was awarded in September 2023 and represents the first non-emergent maintenance solicitation awarded to the Ketchikan Shipyard since 2011.USCGC McCormick is homeported at Coast Guard Base Ketchikan, only 3.5 miles from the Ketchikan Shipyard.This was also the first time a vessel of USCGC McCormick's class has been serviced at Ketchikan ShipyardâŚ
Allen Marine Tours to Repower Two Vessels with Scania Engines
Scania was selected by Allen Marine Tours to power a pair of their eco tour vessels. The two 78-foot QUAD powered vessels will each be repowered with Scania V8 DI16 082M, 800 HP engines delivered by Cascade Engine Center. The custom-built catamarans are capable of 30 plus knots at their full capacity of 150 passengers, and speeds in excess of 35 knots with a lighter load.âWe have seen a lot of interest in our V8,16-liter engines by tour operators in ecologically sensitive areas like Alaska due to their low environmental impactâŚ
Vigor Begins Vessel Maintenance Project for USCG in Alaska
The U.S Coast Guard has awarded Vigor Alaska, a Titan company, a $3.65 million contract to perform maintenance and repairs on U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick at the Ketchikan Shipyard.Work on the project begins this week and will cover comprehensive maintenance and repair of the vessel. After USCGC John McCormick is dry docked, the team at Ketchikan Shipyard will inspect the hull plating, conduct maintenance on the ship's propulsion system and renew hull coatings, as well as several other key maintenance and repair operations.
NOAA Cuts Ribbon on Renovated Ketchikan Port Facility
Federal, tribal, state and local officials joined NOAA leadership to cut the ribbon on the agencyâs newly renovated port facility in Ketchikan, Alaska. The celebration was held to dedicate the facility and recognize the important partnerships in the area.The facility will provide vessel support for NOAA research ships. The facility will also support NOAA Ship Fairweather, which is homeported in Ketchikan.âHaving a home base for NOAA to operate from in Alaska is integral to our scienceâŚ
After Years of Delay, Alaskan Ferry Hubbard Finally Christened
Hubbard, a new ferry built in 2019 for Alaska's Marine Highway System (AMHS), was formally christened this week after a change of plans put the vessel's entry into service on hold.The vessel is the second of two Alaska class ferries designed by Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group and constructed at Vigor Shipyard in Ketchikan, Alaska. Construction of both vessels began in October 2014. The series' first ferry, Tazlina, was christened in 2018, and Hubbard was completed in 2019.Intended to operate as day boats to serve the AMHS Lynn Canal route between JuneauâŚ
Shipbuilders Council of America Announces Safety Award Winners
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance and repair industry, announced its yearly member safety awards for 2023.âWorkforce health and safety is embedded into the fabric of our industry because the teams that work in our shipyards and throughout the industrial base are the most important asset we have in building and repairing the U.S. commercial and military fleets,â said Matthew Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America.
America's Sea Services Building Large Fleet of Small Ships and Craft
Not every vessel in the U.S. Navy is built for major combat operations on the high seas. There are large numbers of boats and service craft that provide essential services to the sea services, the nation and its partners.The U.S. Navy procures about 100 small boats per year. Some of these boats are based on commercial designs, procured to a Navy developed specification that tailors the requirements to the end user needs. They are procured and managed by two Naval Sea Systems Command program officesâPMS 300 and PMS 325.Compared to warships and auxiliariesâŚ
Shipbuilders Council Announces 2022 Shipyard Safety Awards
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipyard industry, today announced the 2022 Annual Shipyard Safety Awards. SCA recognized a total of 15 U.S. shipyards and repair facilities with seven recipients receiving multiple awards.SCA honors shipbuilding and repair organizations with the âExcellence in Safetyâ Award and âImprovement in Safetyâ Award each year for enhancement of operations and promotion of safety and accident prevention.
Bollinger Delivers USCGC Douglas Denman
U.S. Gulf Coast shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards LLC has delivered the USCGC Douglas Denman to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 175th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 49th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.The USCGC Denman will travel to Alaska where it will be commissioned on September 28 in its new homeport of Ketchikan, in the 17th District of the Coast Guard. Once there, it will serve and safeguard the publicâŚ
US Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk Decommissioned
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk (WPB 1322) was decommissioned Thursday during a ceremony held at Air Station Port Angeles that was presided over by Capt. Mark McDonnell, 13th Coast Guard District Chief of Response.Cuttyhunk was one of the Coast Guard's 37 remaining 110-foot Island-class patrol boats. The fleet of Island-class cutters is being replaced by 154-foot Sentinel-class cutters built by Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards.Built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La.
Infrastructure Update: An Earmark By Any Other Name
After years of much talk but little action, major infrastructure funding from Congress now looks like it might actually happen. This in turn has prompted a restoration of the availability of earmarks, which had been, until about a decade ago, part and parcel of the congressional funding process. Within our nationâs inland waterways industry, hopes have been high that the rejuvenation of our countryâs transportation infrastructure will include our inland waterborne commerce, and thatâŚ
Interview: John Waterhouse, EBDG - âBe Bold in Thinking but Cautious in Applicationâ
John Waterhouse is a ubiquitous character in the U.S. maritime industry, a deep-thinker, a signature bow tie and more than three decades of naval architecture and marine engineering experience and success as co-owner of the Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG).While growing up, John Waterhouse spent some time in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and it was as a young boy standing on the shores of English Bay, watching ships come in from around the world to load and unload their cargos, when he realized that a maritime career could be his future.
Titan Acquires HII's San Diego Shipyard
One the United States' largest fleet service and ship repair sites is changing hands.Ship repair and commercial- and defense-related fabrication services provider Titan Acquisition Holdings announced on Wednesday it has reached a deal to acquire San Diego Shipyard from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction, expected to close in the second quarter, is subject to customary closing conditions.The San Diego Shipyard, formerly Continental Maritime of San DiegoâŚ
UAS Announces New Marine Transportation Scholarship
As tourism increases so will the demand for trained, licensed employees and sea pilots navigating the Inside Passage and a new University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) scholarship endowment was inspired to do just that.The Captain Michael A. Clinkscales Maritime Scholarship has been established to support UAS students enrolled in marine transportation courses. Fellow sea pilots led the cause to raise more than $38,000 in honor of âClink,â a man who was known to inspire and encourage others in the maritime trades.
MN100: Elliott Bay Design Group
Named one of this year's MarineNews' prestigious MN100 firms, Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) in 2019 expanded to the East Coast by opening an office in New York and teamed with AMD Marine Consulting Designs to be their exclusive North American vessel design representative. EBDG delivers designs that are better to build and better to operate.The Company:EBDG is a full-service, employee-owned company with offices in Seattle, New Orleans, Ketchikan and New York. The firm provides naval architectureâŚ
GREAT WORKBOATS: The Very Best 10 of 2018
MarineNews showcases the ten best of North Americaâs 2018 workboat deliveries. Domestic shipyard production is robust, innovative and getting greener. And, that translates into two kinds of âgreen.âAs the domestic offshore energy support sector slowly awakens, other sectors have been happy to take the spotlight in its absence. As always, and if a hull was delivered in 2018, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For my part, Iâm always excited when the U.S. boatbuilding sector can deliver for a foreign buyer. Weâve checked that box here. And, thatâs because we can compete on price, quality and when we doâŚ
Alaska Marine Lines Expands to Arctic Ports
Alaska marine transportation company Alaska Marine Lines said that it is expanding its service from Seattle and Anchorage to the Arctic Region in 2019.Bowhead Transport will provide the destination services at the North Slope villages of Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, Utqiagvik (Barrow), and Kaktovik. Alaska Marine Lines will also service Deadhorse with its two annual sealifts.Bowhead, thru its teaming agreement with Alaska Marine Lines, will continue to participate in the door-to-shore service to the Arctic that it initiated over 30 years ago.The new stops will be added to Alaska Marine Lines' many ports of call, joining the major hubs of NaknekâŚ
Passenger Medevaced from Cruise Ship in Alaska
U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska medevaced a woman from a cruise ship near Ketchikan, according to an official press release.A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Ketchikan medevaced the 71-year-old passenger displaying stroke symptoms and brought her to awaiting EMS in Bar Harbor, Ketchikan.Coast Guard watchstanders in the Sector Juneau command center received the request for the medevac from the cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam at about 9 p.m.The Coast Guard boat crew met up with the cruise ship in Revillagigado Channel where the patient, her husband and a medical attendant were brought aboard and transportedâŚ
Nordic Lady: Keeping a Good Boat Up to Date
When Trygve Westergard bought the 98- by 28-foot Judi B in the spring of 2016 he was entering a new chapter in a varied marine career. Growing up on a remote island off Ketchikan, Alaska as the third generation of Norwegian-Danish family, he had fishing in his blood and his environment. A stint at the California Maritime Academy earned him an unlimited masters license and a BS in marine transportation.After a decade of running everything from ferries to off-shore boats and filling the gaps with fishing, Westergard decided it was time to come home.
Coast Guard Receives New Response Boats in Alaska
A new batch of response boats have been delivered to U.S. Coast Guard stations in Alaska this summer as part of the service's initiative to replace older vessels that have reached the end of their planned service life.The five new 29-foot Response Boat-Smalls, also known as Response Boat-Small IIs, were constructed by Louisiana boatbuilder Metal Shark Aluminum Boats and delivered to the Coast Guard's 17th District starting in May.Station Ketchikan received two new boats May 17âŚ
Shipyard Focus: Vigor
Diverse Newbuild & Repair Business Buoys 2018The year 2018 is off to good start at Vigor. The Harbor Island facility welcomed a new drydock christened the Evolution. The $20 million Evolution is the third drydock at Vigorâs Seattle facility and largest in the Puget Sound region, measuring 640 x 115.5 ft. with a lift capacity of 22,000 LT.Other investments in Seattle include a buildout of a dedicated aluminum production facility which greatly expands Vigorâs fabrication capabilities and capacity for workboatsâŚ
Bollinger Delivers 25th Fast Response Cutter
Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the 25th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) USCGC Jacob Poroo to the U.S. Coast Guard on September 5, 2017 in Key West, Fla. The vesselâs commissioning is scheduled for November 8 in New Orleans. Ben Bordelon, Bollinger president and CEO, said, âThis FRC built by Bollinger Shipyards will be the second FRC to be stationed in Pascagoula, Miss. Previous cutters have been stationed in Florida; San Juan, P.R.; Cape May, N.J.; Ketchikan, Alaska; Pascagoula, Miss. and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Bollinger Delivers USCG Joseph Gerczak
Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC Joseph Gerczak, the 26th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard took delivery on the 9th of November 2017 in Key West, Florida. The vesselâs commissioning is scheduled for March 9, 2018 in Honolulu, HI. Ben Bordelon, Bollinger President & C.E.O. said: âThis FRC built by Bollinger Shipyards will be the second FRC to be stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. Previous cutters have been stationed in Florida, San Juan, PR, Cape May, NJ, Ketchikan, Alaska, and Pascagoula, MS.
