Professional Mariner – February 2024

Blount Boats to build New York canal tugs

Rhode Island-based Blount Boats has been contracted by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to build four steel inland tugs for use on the 524-mile Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canal network. According to the state agency – which owns and operates the New York State Canal Corporation as a subsidiary – the first two tugboats are scheduled to be…

A ‘first-ever’ towboat delivered to ACBL

American Commercial Barge Line has marked the delivery of the towboat, MV Michael J. Kennelly – the first Tier 4-engined, retractable-pilothouse towboat to enter service in the U.S. Designed by New England-based Farrell & Norton and built at Steiner Construction’s shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Al., Michael J. Kennelly measures 82 feet and is named for the senior vice president…

Casco Bay Lines ferry replacement program underway

Rhode Island-based Bristol Harbor Group (BHGI) has been selected by Portland, Me.-based Casco Bay Lines to provide naval architecture and marine engineering services for the evaluation and design of a new, as yet unnamed, sub-chapter K passenger/vehicle ferry. The new vessel will operate year-round in Casco Bay and replace the 10.5-knot, 93-foot MV Maquoit II, which was built for CBL…

Parker Towing takes delivery of the MV Johnny R. Holt

Chattanooga, Tn.-based Serodino Inc. has delivered the twin-screw MV Johnny R. Holt to the Parker Towing Company. The new 60-foot, Super Tiger Class workboat is compliant with all Coast Guard Subchapter M standards and features a pair of Cummins QSK-19M engines, developing a total of 1,500 hp. at 1,800 rpm. Twin Disc reverse and reduction gears turn the shafts and…

Ups-and-downs at Philly Shipyard

Throughout its brief history, the Philly Shipyard has endured news both good and bad putting the company in the front row seat of a tumultuous roller coaster ride. Now, the shipyard, the second largest in the U.S., is bracing for what might be its most challenging year as it has drawn, according to reports, keen interest from an ambitious South…

Wabtec, Marinsa partner to power Panama Canal tugs

Wabtec Corporation and Latin American channel partner Marinsa International, has contracted to supply the primary power for 10 new hybrid tractor tugboats for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Under the contract, Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Wabtec will deliver two 8L250MDA marine engines for each tugboat. The marine engines will provide maximum availability with the lowest life-cycle cost for the vessel operators. “Wabtec…

New RudderPropeller masters worst-case failure scenario

Navis Engineering Oy, the Finnish manufacturer of dynamic positioning control systems, has endorsed the use of Schottel’s new Dynamic RudderPropeller (SRP-D) system. The endorsement came after a joint analysis of the system focused on the mechanical capabilities of the new thruster and how well Navis’ NavDP4000 control system can be adapted to it. Earlier evaluations of the SRP-D by classification…

McAllister, ABS partner on sustainability report

Marine towage, offshore and transport group McAllister Towing has partnered with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to produce a sustainability report detailing the company’s efforts to reduce emissions by deploying new technologies, operational controls, and engineering solutions. “McAllister has reduced its emissions intensity over 40 percent over the past 15 years, with innovations in emissions technology, operational controls, along…

Undetected corrosion blamed for crane wire failure

Federal investigators believe undetected deterioration caused a crane wire failure during the offloading of a 76-ton wind turbine nacelle from the 530-foot Thorco Basilsik at the Port of Houston on July 23, 2022. The Swiss-flagged heavy lift vessel arrived at Dock 4 at the Greens Port Industrial Terminal the day before with a cargo of 11 wind turbine nacelles, turbine…

Undetermined electrical ignition blamed for spud barge fire

The 150-foot steel spud barge Kokosing V, owned and operated by Kokosing Industrial, was built in 2020 and outfitted with a Liebherr 895 crawler crane equipped with a clam shell bucket and drag line for dredging. On September 23, 2022, the barge – accompanied by the Justin, a 73.8-foot-long tug operated by Skiff’s Creek Towing – arrived at its work…