Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Morrelli News

14 Feb 2019

ArgoX90: Rocket Recovery Boat

Photo courtesy of Morrelli & Melvin

Parker Shinn and Morrelli & Melvin introduce the ArgoX90, a unique concept designed to significantly reduce space launch and rocket component recovery costs.Rocket reusability has become the space industry’s focus to reduce cost. While SpaceX has landed boosters on drone ships hundreds of miles out to sea, expensive parts of a rocket have still proven unrecoverable. The ArgoX90 may change that.“A boat like this could lower launch costs by 10% in some cases,” said Shinn, who conceived of the original concept.

18 Mar 2014

With an Interceptor, a RHIB and a Cat

Salthouse Boatbuilders

Two extreme AC72 foiling catamarans with wing sails went head-to-head at over 40 knots in San Francisco Bay, California. The teams were competing in the 2013 Americas Cup Challenge which took place from September 7-21, 2013. Anyone watching the first few days of Americas Cup sailing will know that it looked like Emirates Team New Zealand had a seemingly untouchable lead – then out of the blue Oracle Team USA completed one of the greatest comebacks in sport to win the 34th America’s Cup.

17 Mar 2014

USCG ... Past, Present & Future

Greg Trauthwein

Ebeneezer Scrooge would be proud. This is our annual United States Coast Guard edition, and it could best be dubbed the “Christmas Carol” edition as we examine USCG Past, USCG Present and USCG Future. First looking back (but not too far back), and in step with our continued celebration of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News’ 75th Anniversary, Patricia Keefe takes an insightful look at the times, tribulations, leadership and legacy of Thad Allen, past Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

06 Jan 2011

Geo Shipyard Delivers M/V Hoover & Truman

Photo courtesy Geo Shipyard, Inc.

The Crew Boats Hoover and Truman , a pair of 36-ft catamaran crew boats were built for Axxis Drilling company to service their inland and near shore drilling rigs. The vessels were designed by Morrelli and Melvin Design & Engineering group in Long Beach, Calif. The boats have seating for 13 passengers. The seats were built and furnished by Sterlings Upholstery in New Iberia, Louisiana. The aft two seat backs on the port side fold down to form a day bed for the captain to rest between trips. The vessel has two roof top HVAC units for comfort and are powered by a Kohler 5 KW generator.

17 Nov 2009

Getting Up to Speed on Foils

(Photos courtesy www.morrellimelvin.com)

Chances are if you have spent most of your life cruising around on a sailboat, you know a bit about what makes sails work. Foils, canards and wings, however, may mystify you. We’ve tried to simplify the principles for those of you who have a phobia for math, physics and applied sciences. What follows is enough to make you dangerous. Leave the applications of these principals to experts such as Morrelli & Melvin, who have rocket scientists, naval architects and engineers on staff. Bernouilli’s Theorem is also known as the longer path explanation. A sail is an airfoil.

29 Jan 2002

Knight & Carver Launches Loco Buzzard III

Knight & Carver YachtCenter has announced the launching of its latest luxury yacht, Loco Buzzard III, a custom-designed, custom-crafted 65 ft. cruising catamaran yachtfisher. The launch, held Monday, January 21, 2002, at Knight & Carver’s facility in National City, Calif. The vessel’s owner, Buzz Sands, christened the $2.8 million vessel, which is the second custom-built and designed yacht provided by knight & Carver for the Southern California-based yachtsman. Loco Buzzard III offers a break-through in terms of combining conventional yacht desighn with the benefits of catamaran design,” said John Knight, president and co-founder. Loco Buzzard III was co-designed by Knight & Carver and Morrelli & Melvin of Newport Beach, Calif.

25 May 2000

News

ConAgra Inc., the second largest U.S. food manufacturer, has agreed to sell American Commercial Lines LLC (ACL) its large U.S. inland barge fleet and operations. Financial terms of the deal, which ConAgra said was part of ongoing series of strategic divestments, were not announced. ACL will acquire 930 owned and chartered barges, nine chartered towboats and one dry dock, the companies said in a joint statement. The deal includes Peavey Barge Lines, Brown Water Towing Inc. and Superior Barge Lines, Inc. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to be completed in the next 30 days, the companies said. Greg Heckman, president and CEO, ConAgra Trade Group, said, "Our decision to sell the barge company is a strategic one.

22 Dec 2000

Great Boats of 2000

Every year, MarineNews chooses a handful of vessels delivered in the past 12 months and bestows upon them the distinction of “Great Boats.” The boats are chosen for innovations in design, construction and utilization. Following are the 17 vessels or groups of vessels chosen as the Great Boats of 2000. Crowley Marine Services delivered Alert, Attentive, and Aware, a series of three 140-ft., 10,000-hp Prevention and Response Tugs (PRTs), to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Valdez, Alaska. Specifically designed and developed for Alyeska, the boats will be used by Crowley in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System trade. Alert was deployed in February; Attentive was delivered in June, and Aware was delivered in July.

11 Jan 2001

LMC Takes Delivery of New Vessel

Lead Mead Cruises (LMC) of Boulder City, Nev., operates a fleet of four vessels - a number that will increase to five in spring 2001 when LMC takes delivery of a 57 x 17-ft. catamaran currently under construction at Kvichak Marine. The catamaran is designed by Morrelli & Melvin and will cruise 65 miles up Lake Mead and the Colorado River to the edge of the Grand Canyon. "We really wanted a catamaran to operate on this run," said Rob Fair of LMC. Powered by twin Caterpillar 3196-TA diesel engines, rated for 660 bhp @ 2,300 rpm, and fitted to ZF 350A marine gears, the catamaran will cruise at 27 knots and top out at 32 knots. Transmissions will be fitted to 28-in., stainless steel, five-bladed propellers. Seating on the main and aft decks accommodates 68 passengers.

14 Jun 2002

Knight & Carver to Build Excursion Catamaran

Knight & Carver YachtCenter has announced a new vessel contract to build a 72 ft. excursion catamaran for a popular destination resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Construction of the vessel has already begun, with completion slated for late 2002. The Vallarta Adventures IV will accommodate 149 passengers for diving, whale-watching and sight-seeing trips, Upon completion, it will be the third excursion catamaran Kight & Carver has built for the resort, Vallarta Adventures. “Knight & Carver has a long history of building sturdy, efficient and comfortable vessels for commercial passenger use,” said Sampson A. Brown, CEO of the company. Brown noted that the agreement to build the vessel, designed by Morrelli & Melvin of Newport Beach, Ca.

10 May 2005

Island Boats to Construct 65-ft. Catamarans

Island Boats, Inc., New Iberia, La., has been contracted to construct two 65-ft. aluminum catamarans for delivery to a Boston customer. The vessels will be delivered with a USCG SubChapter K Certificate of Inspection for 200 passengers and are being designed by Pete Melvin of Morrelli and Melvin Design, Long Beach, Calif. The vessels will be powered by twin MTU Series 60 main diesels developing 600 hp each and should drive the vessel to a cruising speed of 21 knots fully laden. The vessels will have an enclosed air-conditioned main cabin and open air seating on the upper deck. The vessels will provide daily passenger service to the Boston Harbor Islands and will be available for winter charter at the end of the summer season.

02 Jun 2005

Island Boats to Build 65-ft. Catamarans

Island Boats, Inc. of New Iberia, La., has been contracted to build two 65 ft. aluminum catamarans for delivery to a Boston customer. The vessels will be delivered with a USCG SubChapter K Certificate of Inspection for 200 passengers and are being designed by Pete Melvin of Morrelli and Melvin Design, Long Beach, Calif. The vessels will be powered by twin MTU Series 60 main diesels developing 600 hp each and should drive the vessel to a cruising speed of 21 knots fully laden. The vessels will have an enclosed air-conditioned main cabin and open air seating on the upper deck. The vessels will provide daily passenger service to the Boston Harbor Islands and will be available for winter charter at the end of the summer season.

12 Nov 1999

Kvichak and Morelli & Melvin Team Up On Catamaran

Kvichak Marine Industries is readying its 54 ft. all-aluminum catamaran, Ocean Explorer, for a December delivery to Pacific Whale Foundation of Kihei, Hawaii. The 54 x 14 ft. vessel, which will operate year-round for the Foundation's Eco-Adventure Cruises, holds the designs of both Kvichak and Morrelli & Melvin of San Diego, Calif. Ocean Explorer's venue includes snorkeling, dolphin watching and whale watching tours of Maui's Lahaina Harbor. Propulsion power will be provided by twin Cummins 6CTA diesels, each rated for 430-bhp at 2,600-rpm driving 28-in. diameter four-blade, stainless steel propeller through a ZF down-angle marine transmission. Cruising at a speed of 23 knots, passengers will be seated in Ocean Outdoor model all-weather seats constructed by Beurteaux of Australia.

05 May 2000

News

Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with SeaAmerica Cruise Lines, Inc., based in Hollywood, Fla. Under the MOA, LSS and SeaAmerica will develop a ship design leading to contract negotiations for the construction of two 42,000-ton, 1,000-passenger cruise ships. The program will include options for two additional ships. Construction of the ships would utilize both of Litton Ship Systems' production facilities, Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula and Litton Avondale Industries in New Orleans, and would maximize the resources and experience of both shipyards to achieve operating synergies. Accommodations will include 87 percent outside cabins (most with private balconies)…