13 Nov

GEMINI: Clean, lean and green: a new ferry for the Bay

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

To meet low-wake requirements, the hulls of the new ferry are long and unusually narrow; you can stand inside and touch both walls at once. (Brian Gauvin photos) Only California could come up with specs this tough: Build a new commuter ferry for San Francisco Bay with low shoreline impact, restricted draft, minimal noise, whale-seeking sonar and an emissions level…

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13 Nov

SEACOR CHEETAH: Fastest workboat on the water

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

Capt. Martin Songer lets go the lines as deckhand Terrence Etienne looks on. (Brian Gauvin) The cheetah is the fastest animal on land, capable of top speeds of 70 mph in short bursts. Speed is no doubt why Seacor Marine LLC, of Houma, La., named the newest addition to its fleet of offshore vessels Seacor Cheetah. It’s the first in…

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13 Nov

M/V CAYO LARGO: From Narragansett Bay to the Caribbean islands

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

One delivery, two ferries: La Plena sits atop Cayo Largo. (Courtesy Blount Boats Inc.) The delivery of a new 300-passenger ferry for the Puerto Rico Maritime Transportation Authority on July 23 was an unusual event: the 165-foot boat arrived in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, with a piggyback passenger, the first of four 45-foot water taxis for San Juan’s transit system. Both…

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13 Nov

CREW BOATS: For aluminum yards, another full house

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized

Construction at Breaux Brothers Enter-prises in Loreauville, La. a 42-foot, 18-passenger boat from Geo Shipyards designed for near-coastal work. There is space on deck for 3,000 lb. of cargo. (Larry Pearson) For the Gulf’s crew/supply boat builders, lead times now stretch beyond two years. At least a dozen yards are working on crew boats, double the number of a couple…

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13 Nov

SUPERIOR FUTURE: Modular building sweeps world of liftboats

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

Bunting adorns the new liftboat at its christening in June at Marine Industrial Fabrication in New Iberia, La. One of the latest trends in marine construction is cooperative boat building, in which one shipyard builds part of a vessel which is then towed to another for completion. Four liftboats have been built or are under construction this year using this…

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13 Nov

CIRCLE LINE MANHATTAN: Low bridges? No problem

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

The vessel’s look matches the company’s existing boats, a collection of World War II-era landing craft. For one million passengers a year, Circle Line Sightseeing offers the spectacle of the New York City skyline as seen from the water. Its best-known cruise goes all the way round Manhattan from Pier 42 on the Hudson via the Battery and the northern…

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13 Nov

PAT TILLMAN: Tidewater honors a fallen hero

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

Tidewater Inc., the New Orleans-based offshore giant, recently added three 250-foot supply boats to its fleet just months apart. The newbuilds can carry as much liquid mud and other drilling fluids as larger vessels in its inventory. The offshore service vessels (OSV) were designed and built by Leevac Industries LLC of Jennings, La. Chief Engineer James Anderson Jr. in front…

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13 Nov

PILOTS, FIRE, PATROL: Aluminum floats more boats in niche markets of all types

Professional Mariner StaffUncategorized

Independence, a Robert Allan-designed fireboat from Derecktor. Coming in 2010: two fast fireboats from Eastern Ship-building for New York City. (Courtesy Derecktor Shipyards) There continues to be significant activity in the market for small aluminum pilot, fire, research and patrol vessels. Pilot boats At least on the East Coast, the pilot boat market continues to be dominated by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding…

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13 Nov

TRINITY YACHTS: Come Hell or high water

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime News

Janie is a 157-foot aluminum yacht delivered by Trinity just before Katrina. The gleaming engine room houses Caterpillar 3512Bs with Reintjes reduction gears. (Photos courtesy Trinity Yachts) Of all the survival stories that followed Hurricane Katrina, one of the most compelling is the saga of Trinity Yachts LLC. By the time the storm hit the Gulf in late August 2005,…

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13 Nov

Schuyler Maritime opens new facility

Professional Mariner StaffIndustry News

Broussard, LA – Schuyler Maritime, a leading provider of laminated rubber vessel fenders, announced the opening of its new facility in Broussard, Louisiana. The new 12,000 sqft facility was built to meet the high demand of the vessel fender market. “This new facility will have a tremendous impact on production capabilities†said Dale Langley, general manager of Schuyler Maritime. “We’re…

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