Large Boat News

Jim Towers is Principal in Charge as well as a Senior Naval Architect and Marine Engineer at Elliott Bay Design Group. He has 45 years of marine experience in vessel design and construction with a specific emphasis on structure. A recognized industry expert in vessel design and a part of numerous vessel construction and refurbishment projects, Jim has worked for the Pacific Northwest's top shipyards, where he developed his engineering talent and was involved in the construction of many high-speed aluminum vessels.

A Spanish reconnaissance plane has found what could be a fishing vessel from Senegal with about 200 migrants on board that has been missing for nearly two weeks, the maritime rescue service said on Monday."The plane has found a large boat with some 200 people on board, 71 miles to the south of Gran Canaria," a spokesperson for the service told Reuters, adding it was "possible" that it was the missing vessel.A rescue ship was on its way and would take about two-and-a-half hours to reach the location, the spokesperson added.

When it came time to replace their 50-year-old station vessel New York, the Sandy Hook Pilots Association thought long and hard, weighing their options to determine the best possible solution. They traveled the country, to Houston, San Francisco and up to the Columbia River, and even to Europe—the Elbe River in Germany and Rotterdam in the Netherlands—to ride with other pilots in search of an answer.“We looked at everything from SWATH (small-waterplane-area twin hull) boats to helicopters to big boats in Europe…

One of the United States’ largest and most productive heavy-gauge aluminum boat builders has been humming along at its recently expanded manufacturing facility in Roseburg, Ore.Last spring, North River Boats added a new 33,750 square foot manufacturing building to house all commercial and large boat recreational fabrication. Additional remodeling of the existing factory was completed shortly after to expand small boat fabrication. The yard relocation of its canvas/upholstery shop and received new paint preparation bays…

Italy on Friday urged Malta to go to the aid of an overcrowded boat carrying hundreds of migrants, only hours after the Italian president intervened to end a dispute within the ruling coalition over rescued immigrants.There have been two similar stand-offs with Malta since Italy's new populist government, which pairs the far-right League party with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, took power on June 1.Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who is also leader of the League, said Italy would not take in the migrants because they were Malta's responsibility. Malta, a small island nation, has generally refused to take in large numbers of boat migrants.Italy has seen more than 650…

As Brunswick Commercial & Government Products expands its capabilities and product line, the Florida-based boatbuilder is positioned to safely provide increased efficiencies, and an expanded, multi-mission product line. When Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) broke ground on a facility expansion at the company’s Florida headquarters in early May, it served notice that this well-known boatbuilder had ramped up both its delivery capabilities, and an expanded array of new hulls. With a new large-boat building that includes added manufacturing space and other facility improvements, the 10,500-square-foot facility increases the company’s manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.

Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) has officially broken ground on a facility expansion at the company's Edgewater, Fla. headquarters. The addition includes a new large-boat building with added manufacturing space and other facility improvements. The new 10,500-square-foot facility will be located on the east side of the commercial boats manufacturing campus and will increase the company's manufacturing capacity by 50 percent. "Today, by breaking ground on the BCGP facility expansion, we are greatly increasing our capabilities," said Boston Whaler Group President Nick Stickler.

The aging Pacific Northwest fishing fleet is either undergoing or about to undergo a long-overdo upgrade, judging by a major economic report commissioned by the Port of Seattle. Fisheries managers, seafood suppliers, yards and the supply chain all hope an accompanying surge in ship finance “lifts all boats”. For now, the newbuild count is growing apace, slowed just a bit by owners opting for major retrofits amid rich fish harvests. This fisheries upsurge comes with some rising stars of ship design-and-build for vessels set to ply the Bering and Beaufort seas.

North River Boats’ formula for success: anchored in a diverse portfolio and customer base. Tucked away in Roseburg, Ore., North River Boats began simply enough in 1974 by building jet powered boats to run shallow, technical white water rivers. Over time, the company also developed a solid reputation for jet boat designs. Later, as sport fishing regulations, seasons, and species evolved, North River expanded to build deep vee outboard powered recreational boats to fish larger rivers, estuaries and the ocean. The firm is also known for another reason: its diversified production of hulls, delivered to an equally wide range of clients, both domestic and foreign.

Pettit Marine Paint, leading manufacturer of high performance marine coatings, announced today the release of the all-new superyacht antifouling system, the Pettit XL line. Consisting of the top-selling antifouling products in Pettit’s line, the paints will be marketed as Pettit XL and sold specifically to the large boat market. With over 150 years of experience, Pettit’s offering of Pettit XL paints have been designed to provide exceptional protection for the big boat market. Pettit is also partnering with a European and an Austral-Asian paint company to provide worldwide availability of these new products. The Ultima SR60 multi-season copolymer delivers exceptional performance.

Turkey's coastguard has rescued more than 600 people trying to cross the Aegean sea over the last five days, including women and children fleeing war-torn Syria in rubber boats, a provincial governor's office said on Tuesday. More than 400 of the 636 rescued migrants were from Syria, while others were from Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar and some African countries, the office of the governor of the coastal Izmir province said in a statement. Acting on tip-offs, the coastguard also detained a suspected human trafficker. Around 2 million Syrian refugees have fled the violence in their homeland and taken shelter in neighbouring Turkey. Many of them reportedly pay exorbitant amounts to smugglers and traffickers to help them get to Europe, risking a perilous journey in search of a better life.

The United Nations Security Council expressed grave concern on Tuesday at the growth in people smuggling in the Mediterranean Sea and deplored Sunday's deadly shipwreck of migrants trying to reach Europe that may have killed as many as 900 people. The large boat capsized off the coast of Libya as it was trying to reach the Italian island of Lampedusa. More than 36,000 people have tried to cross the Mediterranean this year, the U.N. says, most fleeing from Libya. "The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern at the recent proliferation of, and endangerment of lives by, the smuggling of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Libya," the 15-member body said in a statement.

The European Union proposed doubling the size of its Mediterranean search and rescue operations on Monday, as the first bodies were brought ashore of some 900 people feared killed in the deadliest shipwreck while trying to reach Europe. Three other rescue operations were underway on Monday to save hundreds more migrants in peril on overloaded vessels making the journey from the north coast of Africa to Europe. The mass deaths have caused shock in Europe, where a decision to scale back naval operations last year seems to have increased the risks for migrants without reducing their numbers. "The situation in the Mediterranean is dramatic.

Marcelo Puscar has been appointed as director of marketing at Volvo Penta of the Americas. Previously director of marine sales for Latin America, Puscar will relocate from Volvo Penta Brazil to the company’s headquarters in Chesapeake, Va., where he will be responsible for managing and implementing a strategic marketing plan that builds, promotes and communicates Volvo Penta’s brand, products and services in the marine and industrial market sectors. He will report directly to Ron Huibers, president of Volvo Penta of the Americas.

Damen announced that Windwave Workboats will be the launching customer of the Twin Axe Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2008.The Twin Axe FCS 2008 is a smaller version of Damen’s successful FCS 2610 which launched in 2011 and has subsequently become the industry standard for the offshore wind market, given its capability of operating further offshore in rougher weather conditions, while ensuring safe and comfortable transfers for those on board. Based in Penzance, Cornwall, Windwave Workboats…

Volvo Penta announced three key appointments to the newly formed Volvo Penta Region Americas organizational structure. This organizational realignment brings together all of North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean under a unified management structure. Customers, OEMs and dealers will see more direct and coordinated support within the Americas. The addition of the Latin America organization comes into effect Jan. 1, 2013. Julia Zelenock has been named director of marketing. She will be responsible for managing and implementing a strategic marketing plan that builds, promotes and communicates Volvo Penta’s brand, products and services in the marine and industrial market sectors.

According to Li Enhong, director of merchant seamen management at the Ministry of Transport, colleges are able to produce only a few thousand merchant sailors every year, far short of what is needed. More than 10,000 graduates who studied non-maritime majors have joined the merchant fleet since 2006, thanks to training offered as part of a government program to support the shipping industry. "We realize the serious problems caused by the shortage of seamen, and it may restrain trade," Li told China Daily. China's trade has been developing rapidly since entry into the World Trade Organization, and this requires an increasing number of merchant seamen. Foreign trade passed $3.6 trillion last year, an increase of 22.5 percent, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Hallin Marine has commissioned a new, $110m, groundbreaking semi-submersible, subsea operations vessel to be named the CSS Derwent. “The CSS (compact semi submersible) delivers big ship capability in a low cost package,” said John Giddens, Hallin’s CEO. “It will support the oil operators’ desire to improve production and reduce costs.” The 84 m CSS is the culmination of a five-year project designed to deliver ‘large boat capability’ at a price of a much smaller vessel with a primary focus on light well intervention.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued a preliminary determination of "dumping" by Japanese outboard engine manufacturers, and has ordered a 22.52 percent import bond be posted for each Japanese engine brought into the United States, according to a press release being distributed by Mercury Marine. The DOC's ruling follows an investigation launched earlier this year after U.S.-based Mercury Marine filed a petition with the DOC and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). "We are pleased the Commerce Department's investigation has confirmed Mercury's contention that Japanese outboard engine makers have been violating U.S. anti-dumping laws by engaging in unfair pricing practices during the past several years.

Fireworks exploded over the Bay Bridge and thousands of people crowding the waterfront near the new ballpark gasped in admiration. Some of the best seats for the spectacle are along the north side of Pier 50, home of Westar Marine Services where owner's and employees share a barbecue in honor of the annual display sponsored by a local radio station. But the folks at Westar are more than passive observers, the tugs that are managing the fireworks barges are contracted from Westar. This annual fireworks event sums up Westar Marine Services' role on San Francisco Bay. They are the company that takes on all of the niche jobs that others with their large investments in big horsepower and Z-drives can't afford to be doing.