Jensen Maritime designing new tug for McAllister
Jensen Maritime Consultants, a Crowley Maritime Corp. company, recently began designing a new vessel, Eric M. McAllister, a 5,150-hp, twin-azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tugboat, for McAllister Towing.
To be built by Senesco Marine LLC of North Kingstown, R.I., the vessel will be the 10th Jensen-designed and first Tier 3 tugboat in McAllister’s fleet. The tug will be the third in a series of similar Jensen-designed McAllister tugboats, following Andrew McAllister and Rosemary McAllister, both built in 2008. The new boat will be operated in the New Bedford, Mass., area, where it will primarily perform ship escort work in Buzzards Bay, Mass.
Andrew McAllister operates out of Portland, Maine, and Rosemary McAllister is under charter.
“We are pleased that the longstanding partnership we have with McAllister has given us the opportunity to design another environmentally responsible tugboat for use on the East Coast,” said Jensen Vice President Johan Sperling. “The state-of-the-art design developed is yet another example of Jensen’s full scope of industry-leading naval architecture and marine engineering capabilities.”
The design will not only give McAllister improved performance over the previous two designs, but also an environmentally friendly tug with lower emissions and reduced fuel consumption to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 marine emissions regulations.
Tier 3 standards require a 50 percent reduction in particulate matter and a 20 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide.
At 96 feet in length and a beam of 34 feet, Eric M. McAllister will be powered by two Caterpillar 3516CHD Tier 3 engines and two Schottel 1215 z-drives. The package will provide an estimated running speed of 12 knots and a bollard pull of 67 tons.
The tug’s firefighting system will produce 11,967 gallons per minute through a pair of FFS 1,200-pound remotely controlled monitors. The water will be delivered through a single FFS SFD 300-400 pump powered by a Caterpillar C32 engine. The monitors will have a 1,500-gallon tank, foam capability and a deluge system.
Towing machinery includes a JonRie 250 Escort winch with full render/recover on the bow and a JonRie 512 Tow winch with a spool capacity of 2,100 feet of 2.25-inch wire on the stern.
The tugboat is expected to be delivered in mid 2013.
General Dynamics buys Earl Industries’ ship repair division
On July 31 General Dynamics completed its acquisition of the Ship Repair and Coatings Division of Earl Industries. The acquired company is an East Coast ship repair yard that supports the U.S. Navy fleet in Norfolk, Va., and Mayport, Fla.
“The acquisition of the Ship Repair and Coatings Division of Earl Industries enhances our ability to compete in the growing naval ship-repair market,” said Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics Nassco. “We have added a solid team with a successful track record that will strengthen our ability to deliver cost-effective maintenance and repair services to the U.S. Navy.”
The Ship Repair and Coatings Division of Earl Industries is a prime contractor for nuclear aircraft carrier (CVN) multi-ship, multi-option (MSMO) contracts. MSMO contracts provide for maintenance, modernization and repair to all ships of a class in specific homeport areas. The company also provides maintenance and repair services to frigates and other classes of naval ships. It now becomes part of the shipbuilding and repair operations of San Diego-based General Dynamics Nassco, a leading provider of ships to the Navy and a major producer of Jones Act commercial vessels. General Dynamics Nassco is also a prime contractor for MSMO contracts for Navy combat and support ships, including frigates (FFGs), dock landing ships (LSDs), amphibious transport ships (LPDs) and amphibious assault (LHA/LHD) ships.
Gladding-Hearn delivers vessel to Rhode Island Fast Ferry
Rhode Island Fast Ferry Co. took delivery on July 23 of a new high-speed passenger ferry from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp., to operate between Quonset Point, R.I., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
Designed by Incat Crowther, the new 150-passenger ferry Ava Pearl serves the same 52-mile route as the operator’s other 400-passenger fast ferry, Millennium, built by the Massachusetts shipyard in 1998. However, the new vessel has been designed to accommodate lighter passenger loads, is smaller overall, lighter and driven by propellers, resulting in significant fuel saving during off-peak times.
The all-aluminum catamaran measures 110 feet overall, with a beam of 30.6 feet and draws 7 feet. It is powered by twin MTU 12V4000 M53 EPA Tier 2 diesel engines, each delivering 1,851 hp at 1,800 rpm and turning ZF Marine nibral propellers. The twin gearboxes are ZF Marine model 5055 with “Super Shift” feature. The ferry is equipped with two Cummins/Onan 55-kW generators.
The vessel features Incat Crowther’s proprietary “S” bow shape, which, according to the builder, provides excellent seakeeping, directional stability and high tolerance to shifts in trim and displacement. In addition, a large Naiad Dynamics active trim-tab ride-control system and high freeboard further improve the ferry’s seakeeping ability and passenger comfort. Top speed is over 30 knots in moderate seas, with a deadweight of 24 tons.
Interior accommodations include Beurteaux seats and tables for 130 passengers in the main cabin, along with a snack bar, two restrooms, and five flat-screen TV monitors. There is a luggage area forward and space for bicycles on the aft deck. Outdoor seating is on the aft and forward decks. The upper deck features protected outdoor seating for 44 passengers and additional seating on the exposed aft deck for 32 passengers. A 180,000-BTU system heats and cools the main cabin and wheelhouse.
Trinity Offshore launches first of 10 30,000-barrel barges
Trinity Offshore LLC and FMT Industries LLC have christened and launched FMT 3242, the first of 10 30,000-barrel tank barges that are 297 feet 6 inches long and 54 feet wide.
The festivities were held at Trinity Offshore’s Gulfport, Miss., facility on July 24, marking the start of what will become an entire fleet of barges. The remaining launches will follow at 30-day intervals.
FMT Industries is one of the several companies within the Florida Marine Group.
Great Lakes Shipyard completes repairs on Ohio research vessel
Great Lakes Shipyard has completed repairs on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ research vessel Grandon. In late June, the state agency awarded the shipyard with the contract to provide repairs to the vessel, including dry-docking, blasting, painting and electrical and lighting replacements.
Grandon is part of the Fairport Harbor Fisheries Research Station for the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife. The division’s primary focus is assessing and managing fish populations by taking samples, monitoring populations and helping to protect habitats and resource integrity.
