Kvichak Marine Industries, Seattle, has been awarded a U.S. Navy contract for 12 30' Rapid Response Skimmers for delivery over the next 18 months, with options for up to 30 additional skimmers to be delivered through 2019. The new boats will supplement the Navy’s current fleet of over 85 units in operation worldwide since 1994. The rapid-response, shallow-water oil-spill-response boat is built for oil spills in waterways, bays and harbors. The 30'3"×9'8" all-aluminum vessel is easily trailerable. Powered by twin 90-hp outboards, the RRS has a response speed of up to 17 knots and features an enclosed two-person pilothouse. The skimmer’s oil recovery system includes a Kvichak/Marco Cl-1 Filterbelt oil-skimming module, a Kvichak/Marco U-040 Capsulpump offload system with 50' hose and a recovered oil capacity of over 1,200 gals.
Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, has been contracted by the New York Power Authority to build two 45'×19'7"×9'4", 940-hp tugs for the Niagara Power Plant’s winter operations in Buffalo, N.Y. The new tugs will replace aging vessels that are used for the installation, removal and maintenance of the Lake Erie-Niagara River ice boom and various marine construction projects. The new tugs will be specially reinforced with heavy stems and shell reinforcement for operations in seasonal ice. The design of the conventional drive tugs includes elevated pilothouses for improved visibility and a spacious work deck aft to facilitate ice boom connections. The tugs are designed to comply with Subchapter M regulations for inspected towing vessels. Bristol Harbor Group Inc., Bristol, R.I., developed the contract design documents and will provide consultation during the construction phase. Delivery of the first tug is scheduled for September 2015.
Willard Marine Inc., Anaheim, Calif., has been selected to supply a demonstration model of a new, advanced combatant craft for the Navy under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract modification awarded to Structural Composites Inc. Under the contract, WMI will design, construct and test a fleet-ready version of an advanced combatant craft incorporating foam/fiberglass extrusion technology developed by Structural Composites. The boat will be based on WMI’s standard Navy MK 3 RIB with a lightweight Steyr diesel engine and stern drive propulsion. The new, framed construction technique will eliminate the need for a traditional foam-core and fiberglass sandwich hull, resulting in a substantial reduction in overall boat weight with no sacrifice in strength and durability. The deck frames will not be connected directly to the hull beams, providing improved shock mitigation when operating in rough seas. The boat will also feature Structural Composites’ new Co-Cure resin and coating technology that has superior cracking resistance for demanding naval applications.
