Professional Mariner – May 2024 – Professional Mariner

Matson contracts for containership LNG retrofit

China’s Cosco Shipping Shipyard (Nantong) has been contracted by Matson Navigation to retrofit the engines of the company’s containership, Kaimana Hila, with liquified natural gas (LNG) fuel capability. Honolulu-headquartered Matson said in a statement that it had signed the contract for the LNG retrofit project earlier this year. According to Cosco, the project includes the installation of an LNG fuel-gas…

Gunderson delivers new barge for PNW-Hawaii service

Gunderson Marine & Iron, Portland, Or., has launched the Makani Loa, a new addition to Aloha Marine Line’s fleet of barges the company utilizes on the trade lane between the Puget Sound area and Hawaii. The 438-foot deck cargo barge was “specifically designed for every two-week freight service between Seattle and Honolulu,” said John Burdick, president and CEO of Lynden Inc., the barge company’s…

Bay Weld’s new Alaska landing craft

Bay Weld Boats of Homer, Ak., has delivered North Cape, a 36-foot, purpose-built aluminum landing craft, to the adventure tourism company, Coldwater Alaska Boats, which provides water taxi services, wildlife tours, and freight runs to the remote locations around the Cook Inlet. The 19-ton vessel has an aluminum catamaran hull that draws only 18 inches of water, a raised, heated pilot house…

New aluminum survey boat launched

BRIX Marine of Port Angeles, Wa., recently launched its latest survey boat, the 3011-CTC-class Lugudi Barana. “We are thrilled to introduce the Lugudi Barana, our latest addition to the BRIX Marine LabCat lineup,” said Perry Knudson, Managing Director at BRIX Marine. “With its advanced features and rugged construction, the Lugudi Barana reflects our commitment to advancing marine surveying capabilities.” Lugudi…

Ergon Marine towboat gets a make-over

Ergon Marine & Industrial Supply Inc. recently welcomed the M/V Miss Audrey into its Vicksburg, Ms.-based fleet of harbor boats. Ergon held the christening ceremony January 23 in the presence of the namesake’s family and friends. The boat is named for the company’s fuel and harbor service secretary, Audrey Thornton, who worked for Ergon Marine for 32 years. Miss…

New Texas passenger/car ferry christened

The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) recently christened Esperanza Hope Andrade, its new 293-foot, double-ended hybrid ferry. The Shearer Group, Inc. (TSGI) began working with the transportation agency to design and provide construction oversight services for the vessel in 2017, which was built by Gulf Island Fabricators in Houma, La. The 495-passenger, 70-car diesel-electric ferry is operated on the 2.7-mile…

Waterjet propulsion planned for Georgia ferries

Two new hybrid ferries being built by Derecktor Shipyards at its Mamaroneck, N.Y. facility for Chatham Area Transit (CAT) of Savannah, Ga., will feature Marine Jet Power (MJP) waterjets as part of their power and propulsion package. The two 65-foot long ferries will feature dual MJP Ultrajet 305 waterjets and permanent magnet traction motors from BAE Systems for their electric propulsion, with…

Seapath orders new barges

St. Johns Ship Building has signed a contract with Seapath for the construction of a series of six ABS-classified deck barges in support of the company’s Jones Act leasing business. The barges will be built at St. Johns’ facility in Palatka, Fl., and will be operated by multiple charterers along the U.S. East Coast, the company said. Seapath is a…

A Trio of towboats for Ingram Marine

Three new 69-foot towboats Patrick L. Morton, Teresa Sprouse, and Gary L. Holman – have been delivered to the Ingram Marine Group from the Main Iron Works (MIW) shipyard in Houma, La. The boats are the sixth, seventh, and eighth new vessels built in a series of ten ordered by Ingram Marine Group from Maine Iron Works. With four…

St. Louis Regional Freightway sets its sights on growth

Strategically sited along the Mississippi River, the St. Louis Regional Freightway (STLRF) is actively positioning itself as a premier national and international hub/gateway in the center of the nation. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, data shows that the St. Louis Regional Ports system – the critical hub of the Freightway – has the second highest concentration of…