Trump signs Jones Act waiver for Dakota Creek trawler
President Donald Trump has signed a Jones Act waiver for America’s Finest, a factory trawler built at Dakota Creek Industries with too much foreign steel.
The waiver for the 264-foot vessel was included in the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act that received the president’s signature earlier this month. The bill also includes possibility the waiver could be revoked if the steel error is proved intentional.
The waiver, which required approval from both houses of Congress, allows the vessel to operate in U.S. waters. Fisherman’s Finest, based in Kirkland, Wash., had planned to sell the trawler abroad if the waiver failed to materialize. The company plans to operate the vessel off Alaska.
Although Dakota Creek built the vessel at its yard in Anacortes, Wash., some of the steel used in the hull was cut and bent in Holland. Dakota Creek has said it didn’t realize the Dutch work was significant enough to violate the Jones Act.
Master Marine completes towboat order, announces another
Master Marine of Bayou La Batre, Ala., has finished a four-towboat contract for Waterfront Services of Cairo, Ill., and announced a new six-towboat order with Osage Marine Services. Entech Designs provided plans for all 10 vessels.
The 67-foot M/V Rick Pemberton completes the four-boat order with Waterfront Services. Propulsion comes from twin Mitsubishi 803-hp Tier 3 engines paired with Twin Disc reduction gears turning 70-inch Sound propellers. Electrical power comes from twin Northern Lights 65-kW gensets.
Other components include R.W. Fernstrum keel coolers, Schuyler Maritime fendering and twin 40-ton Wintech deck winches.
The six towboats for Osage Marine will have a similar propulsion train consisting of Mitsubishi 803-hp engines, Twin Disc gears and Sound props. The vessels also will have R.W. Fernstrum keel coolers and Northern Lights generators. The first two are scheduled for delivery by summer 2019.
Eastern Shipbuilding launches third McAllister tug
Eastern Shipbuilding, which is still recovering from Hurricane Michael, has launched a new z-drive tugboat for McAllister Towing & Transportation.
The 100-foot Ava M. McAllister is a sister tug to Rosemary McAllister and also the lead boat in the series, Capt. Brian A. McAllister, built at the former Horizon Shipbuilding. Jensen Maritime Consultants supplied plans for four-tug series.
Propulsion comes from twin Caterpillar 3516E Tier 4 engines with 6,671 total horsepower turning Schottel z-drives. Electrical power comes from three Cat C7.1 gensets rated for 118 kW. Markey single-drum winches will be installed on the bow and stern. Two FFS 1200 fire monitors can supply at least 5,284 gallons per minute.
Ava M. McAllister was launched on Dec. 7, two months after Hurricane Michael caused extensive damage on the Florida Panhandle and affected countless residents, including many who work at the shipyard in Panama City.
Nichols Brothers finishes second Lindblad cruise ship
Lindblad Expeditions has taken delivery of the second of two 100-passenger cruise ships built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. National Geographic Venture’s November delivery follows Nichols Brothers’ completion of sister ship National Geographic Quest in summer 2017.
Propulsion aboard the U.S.-flagged, SOLAS-rated ship comes from twin MTU 1,600-hp engines turning Wartsila props through Reintjes reduction gears. Schottel supplied a 400-hp bow thruster, twin Volvo Penta 477-kW generators provide ship service power, and a 230-kW unit provides emergency power. National Geographic Venture also features Quantum Maglift stabilizers for minimizing roll.
Quest has carried passengers on cruises in Alaska, Mexico and Central America. Venture’s maiden voyage will take place this month along Baja California.
Gladding-Hearn delivers launch to Alaska pilots
Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has delivered a new pilot launch to the Southwest Alaska Pilots Association in Homer, Alaska.
The 75-foot aluminum Emerald Island features the Ray Hunt-designed deep-V hull for comfort at high speeds in rough water. Propulsion comes from twin Cummins QSK38 Tier 3 engines rated for 1,400 horsepower each paired with ZF-5000 gearboxes and HamiltonJet HM651 waterjets.
Active ride control and automatic trim optimization comes courtesy of Humphree interceptors installed at the transom. Electrical power comes from two Northern Lights 30-kW gensets.
Eight cameras allow the operator to view the engine room, jet room and deck, while the main cabin has six Norsap shock-mitigating seats. Emerald Island has two staterooms in the forecastle, with a head and shower.
The vessel features heated windows, and the roof, deck and handrails also are heated for comfort and safety during long Alaska winters.
Moose Boats delivers dive and rescue craft to San Francisco
Moose Boats of Vallejo, Calif., has delivered an M2-38 aluminum catamaran dive response boat that will respond to emergencies around San Francisco Bay.
The San Francisco Fire Department vessel has propulsion from dual Cummins QSB6.7 425-hp engines paired with HamiltonJet HJ292 waterjets. It also is outfitted with a Hale fire pump capable of 1,500 gpm, FLIR thermal imaging camera, side-scan sonar and CBRN cabin air filtration.
“Serving primarily as a dive and rescue boat, the M2-38 is outfitted with an integrated dive/recovery platform and a bow ladder for beach rescues,” Moose Boats said in a statement announcing the delivery.
The federal government provided 75 percent of funding for the vessel, which is also outfitted with a push knee, cabin roof observation tower and high-power searchlights.