Vessels
VESSELS
With propulsion as the theme of this month’s edition of MarineNews, we’ll highlight (first) those newbuildings where we know which engine or propulsion choice was a factor in the outfitting of those vessels. Sometimes, what’s in those workboats is as important as which sectors those workboats were built to service. This month, we see both Caterpillar and Cummins mentioned twice, and Yanmar once, when it comes to main engine selections. In terms of gears, waterjets and z drives, it’s Schottel, Hamilton Jet and Twin Disc leading the charge. Read on to see which vessels, yards and owners chose a particular selection.
All American Marine to Build Hybrid Ocean Sampling Vessel
All American Marine (AAM) has secured a contract to build a 63-foot hybrid catamaran for the Orange County Sanitation District. The Teknicraft Designed vessel will support ocean sampling and scientific research, and will be an innovative hybrid-powered boat, contributing to environmental sustainability in marine operations. The state-of-the-art vessel is designed to meet California’s zero-emissions standards. The auxiliary generators that provide charging power are acoustically insulated to minimize noise pollution, providing a quiet work environment for scientists in the state-of-the-art wet and dry lab spaces. Additionally, the precision-engineered winch system will allow for accurate deployment of research equipment in offshore environments.
Ocean Sampling Vessel at a glance …
Blakeley Boatworks Delivers M/V CLAIRE ELLEN to Cooper Marine
Blakeley BoatWorks announced the completion and delivery of Hull 107, formally named M/V Claire Ellen, to Cooper Marine’s Louisiana operations. Designed by Farrell and Norton and built by Blakeley BoatWorks, the 70-foot long, 28-foot wide, 1,600 horsepower vessel is fully compliant with the latest United States Coast Guard Subchapter M regulatory requirements. The vessel is the sixth 70-foot pushboat delivered by Blakeley to Cooper Marine-Louisiana.
Claire Ellen at a glance …
BRIX Marine Launches Megayacht Tender
BRIX Marine announced the launch of its latest megayacht tender, the 11.8-meter T/T Kismet. This custom Naiad RHIB was designed for the tender garage on the 122-meter Kismet, recently launched by Lürssen. The 11.8-meter vessel joins multiple other tenders in Kismet’s arsenal. T/T Kismet’s lifting apparatus was designed to fit the megayacht’s tender garage. A three-point system with custom straps enables secure lifting, while a hinged hardtop lowers the tender’s profile for storage. Both the hardtop and engine cover can be adjusted with a control switch. The forward deck includes lounges, a drop bow door with integrated stairs, and a hidden anchor system beneath the raised bow.
Megayacht tender at a glance …
Silverback Marine awarded DoD contract for OX series truckable tractor tug.
Designed in collaboration with Elliot Bay Design Group of Seattle, Silverback Marine partnered with Darley Defense to secure the contract. The specific department of the DoD will remain anonymous until the first vessel is delivered, scheduled for late 2025. For illustrative purposes, Silverback Marine received permission from industry friends including Tradewinds Towing, Poseidon Barge, and Shaver Transportation to display the vessel in multiple livery schemes. When operated in multi-vessel teams, operators now enjoy the ability to perform operations normally only possible with much larger tugs. This nimble solution also reduces underwater noise and environmental impacts, making it an attractive choice for ports seeking grant funding opportunities and incentives.
Ox Series Truckable Tug at a glance …
ACBL Mariner Christened in New Orleans
On November 12th, American Commercial Barge Line celebrated and christened its newest vessel, the M/V ACBL Mariner. According to ACBL, the vessel is the most powerful and capable towboat ever delivered to the U.S. inland river system, designed to exceed industry standards in power, efficiency and reliability. In terms of fuel efficiency, the vessel will exceed the competition by approximately 20 percent compared to smaller vessels. Two-engine setup reduces fuel consumption and maintenance costs compared to three-engine vessels. The towboat can adjust operating draft by up to 18 inches to navigate shallow waters during low river levels, a critical capability on America’s ever-changing inland rivers. With a pushing capacity of up to 64 barges, covering an area of 9 acres in surface area, ACBL Mariner can move more than 75,000 tons of cargo, making it one of the most capable domestic vessels in the industry.
ACBL Mariner at a glance …
Bollinger Lays the Keel of ULA R/S SPACESHIP
Joined by ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno and other ULA executives at Bollinger Marine Fabricators, Bollinger Shipyards in November officially laid the keel for the future R/S SpaceShip, a new ship to transport Vulcan rockets from the factory in Decatur, Alabama to the launch sites at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This is the second transport vessel in ULA’s maritime fleet. ULA awarded Bollinger Shipyards a contract in December 2023 to build a second roll-on/roll-off vessel classed for both ocean-going and river service. Construction of the 356-ft-long ship is taking place at Bollinger Marine Fabricators in Amelia, Louisiana, with delivery to ULA expected in early 2026.
Bollinger Shipyards Delivers FRC to USCG
Bollinger Shipyards in November announced the delivery of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) John Witherspoon at Coast Guard Sector Key West. This is the 58th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the U.S. Coast Guard's current program and the 184th vessel built by Bollinger for the U.S. Coast Guard over a 40-year partnership and will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. This vessel is the fourth FRC to join the fleet in Alaskan waters, reinforcing maritime security and bolstering the U.S. Coast Guard’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging threats and protect vital infrastructure.
St. Johns Ship Building wins USACE nod for Stop Log Barges
St. Johns Ship Building, owned by Americraft Marine, announced an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to construct two (2) 140' x 32' x 7' Stop Log Barges. The contract is St. Johns Ship Building’s first new construction project for the U.S. Government. The new Stop-Log Barges will support the Army Corps’ major maintenance fleet working on the navigation system, locks and powerhouses, and the flood control lakes located within the Tulsa District.
First Damen Shrimp Trawler 2607 Completes Sea Trials
Recently, the first in series Damen Shrimp Trawler 2607 successfully completed its sea trials. Damen has designed the new vessel for the next generation of (sub) tropical shrimp fishing. The design aims at the provision of a straightforward, no-nonsense platform, easy to operate and with minimal maintenance requirements. The Shrimp Trawler 2607 has an extremely low fuel consumption resulting in lower fuel costs and reduced emissions. Damen set about the development of the Shrimp Trawler as a solution for the growing market interest in fuel efficient vessels. Damen specializes in the designing of high-pull vessels with limited propulsion power, and therefore, lower fuel consumption.