Workboats News

Danish operator Hovedstadens Beredskab (HBR)—part of the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department Association— recently commissioned the build of HBR 1 Copenhagen, a full cabin multi-response vessel that can sail under all weather conditions. The new vessel responds to emergency calls in the Harbor of Copenhagen and the surrounding area, navigating the city’s canals to deliver a fast and effective fire response to the residence.The finished vessel latest model in Tuco Marine Group’s ProZero series of fast workboats.

The future is painted bright for companies dealing in hybrid and electric marine propulsion, as vessel owners and operators pursue cleaner technologies to comply with ever-stricter environmental regulations while also seeking ways to improve their bottom line.Case in point is Germany-based electric drives manufacturer Torqeedo, which has to date delivered more than 100,000 electric propulsion products for a wide range of recreational and commercial customers.The hybrid/electric market is one that’s ripe for growth, says Dr. Ralf Plieninger, COO and CTO, Torqeedo.

As one of the largest, most widely known naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the world—celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2020—Robert Allan Ltd. is no stranger to being approached by marine engine manufacturers seeking input on their products. But no one’s ever come to the Vancouver, Canada-based company as early in the process as Caterpillar did during the development of its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Final solutions.Like many in the industry, the team at Robert Allan Ltd.

A Sydney base pump manufacturer and defense contractor has won a contract, to supply 3” engine drive salvage pumps for the Republic Of Korea Navy. The pumps are unique and have application not only in Korea, but in warships and support vessels throughout the world."The original requirement was for a lightweight portable diesel drive salvage pump, capable of handling saltwater,” said Chief Engineer, John Hales. "We'd already developed high pressure firefighting pumps for seawater applications in the form of both the Seamaster and Sea Skipper diesel drive machines’…

The past few months have been full of uncertainties and even as we look ahead, we don’t know exactly what the future will hold. But we do know that as an industry, we’ll need to prioritize and plan differently. Within the Volvo Penta organization, the team is working hard to understand how to adapt our business as the world around us continues to adjust to a changing economic and societal landscape.As I reflect on what’s transpired since the start of the pandemic, I’m proud of the professionalism and creativity shown by our Volvo Penta team in rising to the challenges.I’ll give you an example.

Sanmar Shipyards reports it has delivered another new tug to Latvia on schedule, to join the AS PKL Flote fleet in the port of Ventspils.The latest delivery is a Robert Allan Ltd. designed Ramparts 2200 Class 50t BP ASD tug, the eighth of the series from Sanmar. Originally named Sirapinar VIII, AS PKL Flote has renamed her Altair. Sanmar is currently building the 18th sister of the series.Sergejs Odincovs, Chairman of the AS PKL Flote, said, “Sanmar Shipyards’ tugboat series Sirapinar was chosen…

WindServe Marine's offshore wind crew transfer vessel Windserve Odyssey, built by its sister company Senesco Marine, is embarking upon sea trials on the U.S. East Coast.The news of the vessel launch was shared Thursday by the world's largest offshore wind developer Orsted, via social media.The Windserve Odyssey will support Orsted's U.S. offshore wind projects along the U.S. the East Coast. "After sea trials at Ørsted’s Block Island Wind Farm, the Odyssey will travel from Rhode…

A new offshore guard vessel concept aims to be smaller, lighter and more efficient than most of the vessels used to protect offshore operations currently. It will also be completely unmanned and autonomous.The so-called Autonomous Guard Vessel revealed Tuesday has been created by a consortium of maritime companies specifically for surveillance of offshore structures throughout their life cycle, ranging from wind farms to substation platforms and cable routes.This clean and lean concept to replace conventional guard vessels came to life in a project group facilitated by LISA…

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) said Tommy Linden has joined the company's naval architecture and marine engineering practice as a naval architect. Linden graduated from Webb Institute with a B.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. During his time at Webb, he interned at BHGI, as well as the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Eagle Bulk, Newport News Shipbuilding, and General Dynamics Electric Boat.Linden is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE).Bristol, R.I.

Headset communications on board workboats in harsh marine environments are subject to a variety of challenges: background noise from loud engines and high wind turbulence around the microphone and the highly corrosive salt and spray in marine environments. On board rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) and high-speed craft (HSC) that pound through rough waters at 60 knots – including a variety of patrol boats and interceptor/interdiction vessels – critical communication can be rendered all but impossible.

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…

Now more than ever, professional operators are opting to run outboard engines on a various small military craft, patrol boats, multi-mission workboats and other vessels that have traditionally been powered by small to midsized inboard engines.Using engines that can be mounted on the outside of a vessel instead of those requiring placement inside the hull presents a number of advantages, including space savings on board, easier access for maintenance as well as simpler, quicker replacement…

Several companies within Japan's NYK Group have partnered to test the remote navigation of a tugboat in Tokyo Bay.The tugboat, operated by NYK's Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation, was equipped with a manned remotely controlled system and put to the test by NYK and its group companies MTI Co. Ltd., Keihin Dock Co. Ltd., and Japan Marine Science Inc. (JMS).During the trials, the tug was operated remotely from an operation center in the city of Nishinomiya, approximately 400 kilometers away.

U.K. shipbuilder SMS Group reports it has delivered a newbuild aquaculture vessel to a Tuna farm operator in Malta.The new vessel, Emmaya, has 24m LOA, 8.5m beam and a 3m draft, and it is built to the MCA-MGN-280-Catergory 1 (150nm from safe haven) workboat code. Designed by Walker Marine Design, the workboat will provide tuna harvesting and aquaculture/fish farm logistical and maintenance support services.David Azzopardi, Director of Fish and Fish Ltd, said, “This represents a major investment for Fish and Fish Ltd…

A passenger port in Zhuhai, China has created a new solution using aquatic robots for long distance line deployment.Earlier this month, Zhuhai Jiuzhou Port carried out a series of typhoon-proof reinforcement work for their floating barges. The staff used a small self-powered jet pump device called Dolphin 1 to transport a traction rope, which was attached with the mooring line, to the opposite shore 230 meters away.After the traction rope was transported to the opposite shore…

Canyon Marine Solutions has been approved as an authorized distributor for Thordon Bearings.The Virginia-based engineering firm will provide sales and engineering support to Thordon’s complete portfolio of marine bearing and seal products in the states of Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia.Canyon Marine Solutions, which officially began representing the company on April 1st has already secured a major order for Thordon Bearings. The company…

Two Danish companies have joined forces to test a novel workboat stabilizer for the first time at sea.DACOMA’s groundbreaking Airkeel-technology will be integrated on a 7-meter test vessel from Tuco Marine's ProZero workboat range to demonstrate heel compensation and optimization of roll damping in waves.The DACOMA stabilizer is based on the Airkeel, a submerged, air-filled flotation body mounted at the bottom of the hull. A computer-controlled mechanical drive system moves the Airkeel from side to side…

The NEXT GEN Shock Mitigation Solutions Workshop has been rescheduled to October 6, 2020. The program and format will remain the same and the majority of attendees have confirmed their availability for the new date at the Grand Harbour hotel, Southampton UK.Workshop Lead, John Haynes said, “Whilst we are living in challenging times, we believe it is still important to make plans for the future. Our focus is on viable innovation and using people’s time effectively. There is no…

To enable a fast mobilization throughout the entire Rotterdam port without delaying a ship’s commercials operations, Hydrex dive support vessels are stationed in Rotterdam. These workboats are fully equipped with hydraulic cranes, winches, a dive spread and control room.This allows Hydrex to offer simple maintenance operations as well as repairs on all parts of the underwater ship propulsion system and the hull. Hydrex operations are class approved and carried out alongside or at anchorage while commercial activities continue without disruption.

Veecraft Marine, subsidiary of Paramount Maritime, said it has been awarded a tender from Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to design and build two twin-screw, diesel powered workboats.The 100% South African-developed, 19.5-meter (LOA) vessels, manufactured with 60% local content, will feature a 7.25-meter beam, fixed-pitched propellers and twin rudders, offering 15-ton bollard pull (short tons-force).

UK-based offshore support services provider CWind has signed a long-term charter deal with Dalby Offshore for several offshore vessels that will support offshore wind farms in the UK North Sea.The deal will see CWind immediately add four new vessels to its fleet with the option of an additional two vessels later in the year.Also, CWind said it that supported throughout negotiations by vessel procurement advisor Colebrook Offshore, It has already chartered some of the new vessels…

When discussing the arrival of autonomous workboats, many – especially those developing the technologies that enable them – say it’s is not a matter of if, but when. In fact, autonomous harbor tugs are already being put to the test in Singapore, where authorities hope to establish the technological infrastructure to enable fully autonomous ship operations. In the U.S., an autonomous vessel was shown to be able to respond to marine oil spills.But is autonomy really the future?

Last month a Hydrex team removed a bow thruster from a 170-meter container ship. This was done during a stop in Rotterdam. The unit needed to be overhauled and the operation had to be carried out within a very short window that would fit the schedule available to the vessel’s owner.The team mobilized to the ship’s location using a workboat loaded with all the needed equipment. These workboats are fully equipped as dive support stations with hydraulic cranes, winches, nautical and communication equipment and a dive control room.