On April 28, Burger Boat Co., Manitowoc, Wis., launched Chicago’s Classic Lady, a 98'×32’×6'2" (draft), Subchapter K, steel passenger boat, built for Chicago’sFirst Lady Cruises. Designed by Seacraft Design, Sturgeon Bay, Wis., the boat has a capacity of 299 passengers. With an open-air upper deck and climate-controlled interior, a carpeted main salon with large arched windows, round tables and upholstered chairs, the vessel will be used for private parties and corporate events as well as cruises for the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Chicago’s Classic Lady is powered by twin Caterpillar C12 main engines and twin Cat C4.4 gensets. Chicago’s Classic Lady is a sistership to Chicago’s Leading Lady built byBurger in 2011. The boat is styled after the luxury cruising yachts of the 1920s such as the former presidential yacht Sequoia.
Harley Marine NY recently took delivery of the HMS Justice from Conrad Shipyard, Morgan City, La. The 75'×29'9"×9'11" pushboat is powered by a pair of Cummins K38M Tier 2 main engines, each rated at 1,000 hp. The Justice is the fifth vessel in this class. In New York, the Justice will join a fleet of two tugs and four petroleum barges operated by Harley.
Bay Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wis., will build three ATB oil/chemical barges (two 150,000 bbl. and one 110,000 bbl.) and two ATB tugs (one 6,000 hp and one 5,300 hp) for Moran Towing, New Canaan, Conn. Delivery is scheduled separately over the next two years.
Gunderson Marine, Portland, Ore., announced a contract with Kirby Offshore Marine, Staten Island, N.Y., for a second 578'/185,000-bbl. ATB. The second ATB is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2016.
In April, the ATB barge Lakes Contender was christened at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair in Erie, Pa. The 34,000-ton capacity, self-unloading barge is the first of its kind to be built in Erie since 1972. The barge will be pushed by the 10,700-hp tug Ken Boothe Sr.
A new ABS-classed floating crane barge, the Ocean Ranger, has been delivered from Metal Trades Inc., Yonges Island, S.C., to Stevens Towing Co., also on Yonges Island. The 200'×72'×14' barge was designed by The Shearer Group, Seabrook, Texas, with additional engineering provided by Teearc Engineering, Henderson, Nev. The barge is certified at 500 ST. Allowable deck loading is 3,200 lbs. per sq. ft.
In May, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss., launched the U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter James, the fifth of seven NSCs being built by Ingalls. The 418'×54' Legend-class cutter will undergo sea trials this summer and is expected to be delivered before the end of the year.
