Riverhawk News

Building patrol boats is big business, especially for foreign defense needs. U.S. yards compete on a global stage in the all-important maritime security workboat arena. Patrol boats have continued to enhance bottom lines at many U.S. vessel builders this year through sales that are usually government directed or assisted. Budget cuts are a concern, but the sector’s federal funding remains high. Patrol boats are sold to other nations under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales or FMS program, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act to provide defense items.

San Marcos, Calif. based SD Model Makers delivered their eighth scale model ship to Tampa, Fla. based Riverhawk Fast Sea Frames. The 1/36 scale, 24.05-inch model is a replica of Riverhawk’s SeaStriker 22 very high speed fast patrol and interdiction craft. The model replicates the actual SeaStriker that will launch in Tampa in May and be on display at the Special Operations Forces International Convention (SOFIC) beginning May 22 in Tampa. Riverhawk’s SeaStriker model represents…

The Iraqi navy and the U.S. Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command mark delivery of two 60-meter Offshore Support Vessels (OSV's). The delivery ceremony was held recently at the Umm Qasr naval facility in Iraq. The two OSVs, procured as part U.S. Navy's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, will help reconstitute Iraq's ability to enforce maritime sovereignty and security in the Northern Arabian Gulf. "This occasion reflects the important ties that bind our governments and our commitment to supporting s strong coalition partnership that is based on mutual respect and understanding," said Vice Adm.

Many commercial marine products evolve from military roots. At Euronaval last month in Paris, contractors large and small from around the globe showcased new and emerging technologies. According to General Electric, there is a new era dawning for naval engineering and propulsion. “I’ve seen the future of naval propulsion, and it’s electrifying,” said GE Power Conversion’s Captain Mark Dannatt Royal Navy (retd.), speaking at Euronaval. Capt. Dannatt’s comments came as he outlined the latest advances in advanced naval electrical technology from a GE perspective.

Raytheon Anschütz has developed an innovative system solution for OPV’s, smaller Naval and Coast Guard vessels. At Euronaval, the Synapsis Command Bridge is launched as a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf navigation with Command & Control capabilities to a new, homogeneous bridge system. The Synapsis Command Bridge aims to provide a solution that not only includes the Synapsis Integrated Navigation capabilities but also transfers enhanced Command & Control (C2) capabilities from the Raytheon Anschütz’ SmartBlue surveillance system to a new sea-based application.

Offshore vessels in the Gulf of Mexico have become more energy efficient in recent years and are polluting less because of changes in engines, bunker fuels and building materials. At the same time, Gulf of Mexico builders have responded to meet new regulations, customer needs. At Harvey Gulf International Marine in New Orleans, Environmental Compliance Coordinator Nicole Eddlemon said “adoption of energy-saving vessels in the U.S. is driven by North American Emission Control Area or ECA regulations, initiated by the Obama Administration and the U.S.

RiverHawk Launches First-of-Class Advanced Multimission Platform (AMP) at Tampa Yard. RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames (RHFSF) has launched its signature Advanced Multimission Platform (AMP) at its shipyard in Tampa, Florida. Fully designed and built in the United States, the 145-foot coastal security craft was contracted 12 months ago by the U S Department of the Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to Maritime Security Strategies (MSS) of Tampa, Florida. RiverHawk designed, produced and is outfitting the ship, scheduled for final delivery to NAVSEA in May.

All U.S. Coasts enjoying upswing in business. For many U.S. builders, last year closed on a happier note than 2010 – when the BP spill, offshore drilling ban and weak U.S. and global economies hurt business. In 2011, new orders for vessels for the oil industry and for the U.S. and foreign governments promised to keep a number of builders busy in 2012. A need to comply with new federal regulations created work, and repair activity grew. The upshot is that coastal economies are getting a needed boost. But some companies find themselves with more customers than they can immediately handle.

Marine Travelift Inc. announced that Tampa, Fla.-based RiverHawk Marine has acquired one of its 300C mobile boat hoists, thanks in part to a Small Shipyard Grant from the U.S. Maritime Administration. The Small Shipyard Grants program is administered by the Office of Shipyards and Marine Engineering in Washington D.C. RiverHawk’s 7.5-acre facility on West Tyson Avenue in Tampa is located with easy deep-water access from the Gulf of Mexico. The yard accommodates vessels up to 200 ft in length with drafts up to 14 ft for in-water repairs…

Genoa Design International Ltd. has won a contract to provide production design and lofting for two196.8 ft Offshore Support Vessels for the Iraqi Navy. The ships, which will play a central role in rebuilding Iraq’s maritime security capability, will support and defend the country’s offshore oil terminals. Two U.S. based companies are leading the project: RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames in Florida, as primary contractor and Gulf Island Marine Fabricators, L.L.C. in Louisiana, as construction sub-contractor. The project falls under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, with Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., as contracting entity for the Iraqi Government. Vessel completion is expected by December 2011.Genoa Design International Ltd.

The Department of Transportation has announced 70 grants totaling $98m in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds that will be used to improve small shipyards throughout the United States. The funds, awarded through the Maritime Administration’s Assistance to Small Shipyards program, will help create and preserve jobs, provide valuable employment training and make much needed improvements to shipyards across the country. The Small Shipyards Grant program provides up to 75 percent in ARRA funds for a project and requires the remainder be matched by the shipyard. A detailed list of the grantees is as follows. •    Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc.,  Philadelphia, PA: $2,312,614, for the first year of training program.