Can foreign investment save US shipyards? Consider the case of Hanwha Philly

Can foreign investment save US shipyards? Consider the case of Hanwha Philly

  The State of Shipbuilding When the Hanwha Group, a South Korean conglomerate, acquired Philly Shipyard at the end of last year, the American shipbuilder had been bleeding money. The yard finished 2021 with a net loss of $7.3 million. In 2022, it lost $11.7 million, followed by a staggering $67.9 million in 2023. In investor reports, the shipyard —…
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YEAR AT A GLANCE

YEAR AT A GLANCE

April 2024 Seaspan launched its second LNG bunkering vessel, Seaspan Lions. The 371-foot ship is part of a three-vessel series providing low-carbon fuel services in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The third vessel is expected late this year. July 2024 The Canadian Coast Guard’s new Polar Class 6 offshore science vessel, CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, began sea trials in British Columbia. The…
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Golden Gate gives pilots comfort, safety and clean-burning fuel efficiency

Golden Gate gives pilots comfort, safety and clean-burning fuel efficiency

GOLDEN GATE With their three-decade-old pilot boat Golden Gate nearing retirement, the San Francisco Bar Pilots set out to design a new multipurpose vessel focused on three priorities: reducing sound and vibration for maximum pilot comfort, optimizing the speed-to-fuel-burn ratio and putting safety above all else. Delivered in 2023, the new PV Golden Gate achieved several firsts for U.S. pilot boats:…
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Two new hybrid “Belles” make history in Georgia

Two new hybrid “Belles” make history in Georgia

Juliette Gordon II / Susie King Taylor II In early 2025, Derecktor Shipyards delivered the first-ever hybrid-electric jet-driven ferries in the United States to Chatham Area Transit in Savannah, Ga. The new vessels are now in operation in the Savannah Belles Ferry fleet, with a third under construction at Derecktor. “That sets us apart — I feel like we can…
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New University of Wisconsin-Superior research vessel replaces old tugboat with state-of-the art catamaran

New University of Wisconsin-Superior research vessel replaces old tugboat with state-of-the art catamaran

SADIE ANN With the dream of educating students and immersing people into the unique environment of one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, the University of Wisconsin-Superior started conceiving a new vessel about three years ago. The goal was to build a fast, efficient and clean floating classroom, mobile research lab and all-around passenger vessel — a boat not just…
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A refined repeat of a reliable CTV

A refined repeat of a reliable CTV

WINDEA RELIANCE As the fleet of purpose-built vessels for East Coast wind farms continues to grow, the latest generation of crew transfer vessels (CTVs) benefits from being near carbon copies of proven designs, but with refinements drawn from real-world experience and operator feedback. In May, St. Johns Ship Building in Florida delivered WINDEA Reliance, the shipyard’s third and final vessel…
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MV Karl: The newest — and final — generation of SF Bay Ferry’s diesel vessels

MV Karl: The newest — and final — generation of SF Bay Ferry’s diesel vessels

KARL Among the many facets that Capt. Chuck Elles enjoys about the brand-new, 138-foot, 320-passenger SF Bay Ferry Karl, the padded engine-room plates might rank highest among them. “The plates have foam underneath, so when you lift them up and set them down, they don’t bang. It’s just little things like that,” the veteran captain said with delight. It’s that…
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Old Dominion delivers power and precision in Virginia’s harbors

Old Dominion delivers power and precision in Virginia’s harbors

OLD DOMINION A high-speed pilot boat designed to operate in a harbor environment has been delivered to the Virginia Pilot Association. Old Dominion measures 58 feet overall, with an 18-foot beam and a 4-foot draft. It is powered by twin Volvo Penta D13-800 EPA Tier 3 certified diesel engines, each producing 800 hp at 2,300 rpm. The vessel’s top speed…
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Solar vessel seeks to make change on Delaware River

Solar vessel seeks to make change on Delaware River

FIREFLY When Firefly quietly glides through the waters of the Delaware in early 2026 without the familiar roar of internal combustion, it will be the first lithium-iron-phosphate-powered boat in its class to receive Coast Guard approval for passenger use. Everything about the 49-foot aluminum catamaran is designed to be energy efficient. Firefly captures power using bifacial solar panels to draw…
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