Manufacturing Corporation News

Hepburn and Sons LLC announced it has officially joined forces with MELD Manufacturing Corporation, developer of the patented, solid-state metal additive manufacturing process and provider of MELD 3D printing machines. The companies have been working together since 2021 to introduce the Navy and other military services and DoD agencies to MELD, also known as additive friction stir deposition.Hepburn and Sons LLC is a small business founded in 2010 whose initial focus was to provide expert consulting…

Gulf Copper and Manufacturing Corporation has appointed Jonathan Whitworth as a member to its board of directors.Whitworth, a graduate of Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG), brings his extensive working history and experience back to Texas. He holds an MBA in Finance with a focus on marine business and currently serves as vice chairman of the TAMUG Board of Visitors.“I feel very fortunate to have retired and moved back to Galveston Island, a city which has a rich maritime history and a place with great memories for both me and my wife,” said Whitworth.

Construction of Taiwan's Formosa 2, an offshore wind power (OWP) development project, officially broke ground in Miaoli County.Orsted Taiwan said in a statement that it held a ground-breaking ceremony for the onshore substation works for the 900MW Greater Changhua 1&2a offshore wind farm off Taiwan.Ørsted awarded an onshore substation EPC contract to TCC last November. TCC will build two onshore substations, cable corridors, and transition joint bays for the first 900MW Greater Changhua projects. The contract, with an amount over NTD 7bn, is being now executed by Star Energy Corporation (SEC), a 100% subsidiary of TCC.SEC has hired more than 60 additional employees since last year.

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (Nichols Boats), located in Freeland, Wash., recently completed the M/V Nancy Peterkin, a 136’ x 44’ x 23’, 10,000 HP ATB Tug for Kirby Offshore Marine (Kirby), located in Houston, Texas. The Nancy Peterkin, built for Kirby Offshore Marine, was designed by Guarino & Cox using a round bridge hull form for optimum sea keeping and propulsive efficiency, the builder said. She is to couple into a 185,000 barrel barge built at Gunderson Marine in Portland, Oregon. This vessel will handle barges in full-ocean service.

American Crane & Equipment Corporation, an Eastern Pennsylvania based manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoist says it has appointed Karen Norheim, formerly Vice President of Marketing and Information Technology, as Executive Vice President. Karen Norheim joined the company in 2002 and has served as Vice President of Marketing and Information Technology for the past six years. As VP of Marketing and IT, Norheim coordinated marketing activities and established network and computer systems for this large manufacturing corporation. Norheim studied at Pennsylvania State University, earning two undergraduate degrees in Marketing/International Business and International Studies. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Information Science and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Alabama Shipyard has delivered another articulated tug and barge (ATB) unit to Reinauer Transportation Companies of Staten Island, N.Y. The Christian Reinauer and the RTC 143 is the second ATB unit built for Reinauer at Alabama Shipyard’s facility in Mobile. The first ATB unit, the Nicole Leigh Reinauer and the RTC 135 was delivered by Alabama Shipyard in December 1999. The 7,200 hp twin-screw ocean-going tug is 124 ft. and features the patented Intercon tug/barge coupler system designed and built by Intercontinental Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation of Kansas City, Mo. The system consists of two independently mounted gear drive ram assemblies that connect the tug and barge. The connection is transversely rigid and mechanically locked.

The movement of petroleum products on the nation's rivers, lakes, bays and oceans is soon to be regulated of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Called OPA 90, this regulation requires many bulk carriers of petroleum products to use double-hulled barges to haul their cargo by 2005 and all to be doubled hulled by 2015. Looking first at the large product tankers and crude oil carriers, 23 product carriers and 17 crude oil carriers must be double hulled by 2005, another 20 product carriers and 17 crude oil tankers need to be double hulled by 2010 and another 13 product and 9 crude oil ships need to meet OPA 90 by 2015. These conversions (or ship retirements) are a major issue impacting the ability of the U.S. to transport crude oil and its refined products.

Atlantic Marine, Inc. has received a contract for a second state-of-the-art articulated tug and barge (ATB) vessel to be built at its Alabama Shipyard facility in Mobile, according to Dick Wells, President. This will be the second ATB to be supplied to Reinauer Transportation Companies headquartered in Staten Island, New York. "We were awarded this contract to build a second ATB for the Reinauer Transportation Companies for three reasons. First, the performance of the first ATB has been excellent, fully meeting the requirements of Reinauer's customers. Second, Alabama Shipyard has worked hard to support the first ATB to ensure that Reinauer is a fully satisfied customer.

Alabama Shipyard has signed a contract to build an articulated tug and barge (ATB) vessel for Allied Transportation Company of Norfolk, Va. "This is our third major contract award during the last four months of 2000," noted Alabama Shipyard president Dick Wells. "We have several pending contracts that will help us create a stable workforce here in Mobile," Wells stated. Alabama Shipyard designed the 129,000-bbl, 450-ft. barge in compliance with the OPA 90, which requires vessels to have a double-hull in order to provide greater safeguards to the marine environment. OPA 90 requires most large coastal barges operating in the petroleum and chemical trade to have double hulls by 2005.

Kahlenberg Brothers Company of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, purchased the Marine and Industrial divisions of Airchime Manufacturing Co., Ltd. of Langley, B.C., Canada. Since 1929, Airchime air horns, electric horns, and accessories have been well known for their high quality and durability in commercial marine, industrial, and locomotive applications. All Airchime Marine and Industrial products will now be manufactured in Kahlenberg’s existing facility in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. While some of the Airchime products have competed directly with Kahlenberg products in the commercial marine and industrial sectors, many of the Airchime designs are complementary to Kahlenberg’s existing product line, and greatly expand the range of products that can now be offered by Kahlenberg Brothers Company.

Construction of Articulated Tug Barge units (ATB) continues to occupy a prominent place in the order books of several shipyards. However the pace of current building and back ordered units is not as high as the 2000-2002 period. "It looks like we are in for a little 'breather' for a while," said Allen Craft, senior vice president of Intercontinental Engineering-Manufacturing Corporation, Kansas City, Mo. The company manufactures Intercon, one of the most popular couplers between the tug and the barge, which makes the ATB concept workable. "Vessel Management Services, a division of Crowley Maritime was a major driving force in this market when they had two different yards each built two ATBs with 9,280 hp tugs and 155,000 barrel barges using our couplers," Craft said.

The New York State Thruway Authority has awarded a contract to Penn Yan Marine Manufacturing Corporation for construction of a custom work boat for inspection and maintenance in the Tappan Zee Bridge area of New York. The model selected is Penn Yan's 2001 Spector, which is 20.5 ft. long, with an eight ft. beam. The model features Penn Yan's new Center Console with a unique forward deck, making it especially suited to the requirements of the job, by providing a large lockable equipment locker, as well as a large work platform at the bow, leaving considerable uncluttered cockpit area available. Powered by a Johnson 115 hp OceanPro outboard motor, the vessel will attain speeds of 36-38 mph.

Alabama Shipyard, Inc. delivered Nicole Leigh Reinauer and RTC 135, an articulated tug/barge (ATB) unit, built for Reinauer Transportation Companies of New York. Alabama Shipyard designed the 135,000 barrel, 460-ft. double-hulled barge in compliance with OPA 90 regulations. Bob Hill of Ocean Tug and Barge Engineering designed the 7,200 hp twin-screw 124 ft. tug, built by Alabama Shipyard's sister company, Atlantic Marine. The ocean-going tug/barge unit features a patented Intercon tug/barge coupler system designed and built by Intercontinental Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation of Kansas City. The system consists of two independently mounted gear-driven ram assemblies which connect the tug and barge.