Shipbuilding News, January 2016

Bollinger delivers 16th fast response cutter

Bollinger Shipyards delivered CGC Winslow Griesser, the 16th fast response cutter (FRC) to the U.S. Coast Guard in December.

“We are very pleased to announce the delivery of the latest FRC built by Bollinger Shipyards, the Winslow Griesser, to the 7th Coast Guard District in Puerto Rico,” said President and Chief Executive Ben Bordelon. “We are looking forward to honoring and celebrating the heroic acts of Winslow Griesser at the vessel’s commissioning.”

The 154-foot patrol craft is the 16th vessel in the Coast Guard's Sentinel-class FRC program. To build the FRC, Bollinger used a proven, in-service parent craft design based on the Damen Stan Patrol Boat 4708. It has a flank speed of 28 knots, a stern launch system for the vessel’s 26-foot cutter boat, and state-of-the-art command, control, communications and computer technology.

The Coast Guard took delivery on Dec. 23 in Key West, Fla., and is scheduled to commission the vessel in Puerto Rico during March 2016.

Each FRC is named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished him or herself in the line of duty. Winslow W. Griesser, keeper of the Buffalo Life-Saving Station in New York, was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal on Feb. 23, 1901, for his heroic actions during a dramatic rescue on Nov. 21, 1900.

ESG delivers Harvey Sbisa to Florida Marine Transporters

Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. announced the delivery of MV Harvey Sbisa on Nov. 30, 2015. It is the 62nd 90-foot inland towboat delivered to Florida Marine Transporters Inc. of Mandeville, La., continuing its ongoing newbuild program.

In the spring of 2015, Florida Marine Transporters signed an additional towboat order, bringing the total to 65 vessels contracted over the past 10 years. Five of the most recent 90-foot inland towboat deliveries to Florida Marine occurred over the past 12 months. Harvey Sbisa was constructed at Eastern’s Allanton Facility from a design furnished by Gilbert Associates Inc. of Boston.

This ongoing order for 90-foot towboats originally began with a 25-vessel contract, with on-time deliveries starting in 2006. It has expanded to become the largest single-builder, single-owner, new- construction program with the same class towboat design in U.S. history.

Crowley takes delivery of second LNG-ready tanker

Crowley Maritime Corp. in December took delivery of Texas, the second of four new Jones Act product tankers, from Philly Shipyard Inc., formerly known as Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.

"We are proud to deliver another ship to Crowley and the first under our new name, Philly Shipyard. The Texas, like our 21 previously delivered vessels, continues the long tradition of men and women building quality vessels in Philadelphia," said President and Chief Executive Steinar Nerbovik. "As we continue to build the eight ships in our backlog, we are always looking for more skilled men and women to add to our team."

The 50,000-dwt, 330,000-barrel Texas and sister ship Ohio, which was delivered to Crowley in October, are the first-ever tankers to receive ABS LNG-Ready Level 1 approval, meaning Crowley has the option to convert the tanker to LNG-fueled propulsion in the future. The remaining two product tankers being built by Philly Shipyards for Crowley have planned deliveries from the shipbuilder in 2016.

"We are excited to close out 2015 with the addition of this technologically advanced vessel to our fleet of U.S.-coastwise product tankers," said Rob Grune, Crowley's senior vice president and general manager, petroleum and chemical transportation. "We constantly strive for ways to enhance the services we provide to our chemical and petroleum customers. The introduction of vessels like Ohio and Texas, with their advanced technology and environmentally friendly fuel options, prove that we are innovating the industry and we are doing it with American-built, Jones Act vessels."

The new 50,000-dwt product tankers are based on a proven Hyundai Mipo Dockyards design that incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features and flexible cargo capability and meets the latest regulatory requirements. The vessel is 600 feet long and is capable of carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products.

Bordelon Marine takes delivery of Brandon Bordelon

Brandon Bordelon, a DP2 ultra-light intervention vessel (ULIV), was delivered to Bordelon Marine in November.

The highly specialized vessel features a helideck, a 60-ton crane with about 9,800 feet of wire and a mezzanine deck with internal office and control rooms capable of supporting two full work-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems. The vessel offers 6,200 square feet of clear useable deck space.

Brandon Bordelon is designed with removable bulwarks around the entire aft of the vessel, along with power, water, air and hydraulic oil connections on the deck. The vessel is equipped with four additional below-deck Tier 3 generators, providing fully redundant power to the crane and ROV systems.

“We are very excited to introduce Brandon Bordelon,” said company president Wes Bordelon. “This vessel is the next-generation design of the Stingray series and continues our commitment of the ULIV concept to the subsea market. With the addition of a helideck and other integrated systems Brandon Bordelon provides an additional highly capable and low-cost vessel option to our clients.”

Brandon Bordelon will immediately begin a three-year term charter in the Gulf of Mexico.

All Stingray series vessels are built at Bordelon Marine Shipbuilders in Houma, La. Bordelon Marine took delivery of the Shelia Bordelon, its second DP2 ULIV, in May 2015. Shelia Bordelon has been employed performing inspection and maintenance operations for various clients.

The first in the Stingray series, platform supply vessel Connor Bordelon, was delivered in 2013.

Washburn & Doughty christens JRT Moran

Washburn & Doughty Associates of East Boothbay, Maine, has launched JRT Moran. The 93-foot tractor tug was designed in-house by Bruce Washburn and is yet another ship-docking tug built for Moran Towing of New Canaan, Conn.

JRT Moran is powered by twin EMD 12-710G7C Tier 3 engines driving Schottel SRP 1515FP azimuthing stern drives.

JRT Moran will be the latest tugboat to join the company’s growing New York fleet.

By Professional Mariner Staff