Willard Marine, Anaheim, Calif., has acquired the rights to design and build Crystaliner boats, a line of fiberglass surf and rescue boats that date back to 1956 but were discontinued in 2012. Willard will also now be building commercial and military vessels designed by SeaArk Marine, Monticello, Ark. SeaArk also ceased production a few years ago, but its work and patrol vessel designs will now be built and marketed by Willard.
Rodriguez Boat Builders, Bayou La Batre, Ala., recently delivered a 65'×26' Lugger-style tug to Belle Chasse, La.-based CvitanovicTowing. Main propulsion for the Andrew C comes from a pair of Cummins 355-hp QSM11-M diesels, producing a total of 710 hp. The mains connect to Kahlenberg 51"×49", 4-bladed propellers through ZF 325 gears with 2.95:1 ratios. Designed and built to service rigs in the extensive delta area of the Mississippi River, the tug only draws 5'6". Capacities include 10,600 gals. of fuel oil and 24,300 gals. water. For cargo transfer the tug is fitted with a Veeder Root discharge meter. The tug’s 400 sq. ft. of deck space allows for transport of smaller pieces of equipment.
Sabine Pilots, Grove, Texas, has ordered a new pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding. Delivery is expected in late 2015. With a deep-V hull designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, the all-aluminum Chesapeake-class pilot boat measures 53.6'×17.8' with a 4.8' draft. The launch will be powered by twin Caterpillar C-18s diesels, each rated at 715 hp at 2,100 rpm. Loaded top speed will reach 28 knots. The engines will turn 5-bladed nibral propellers via Twin Disc MGX-5135A Quick Shift gears. A Humphree Interceptor trim tab system, with automatic trim control, will be installed at the transom. The vessel will be equipped with a 12-kW Alaska Diesel genset. The boat will include wide side decks, side and rear doors, and boarding platforms on the roof and bow. Throttle and steering controls at the stern and a winch-operated, hinged rescue basket will be installed for pilot rescues. The wheelhouse will be cooled by two 16,000-Btu air conditioners. A third, 12,000-Btu unit will be installed in the foc’sle. Interior accommodations include eight Llebroc seats, a head, a small galley and two settee berths forward.
Crescent Towing, New Orleans, is adding two more ASD tugs to its fleet. The design for the 92-footers was developed by Jensen Maritime Consultants, Seattle, and will be built by SteinerShipyard, Bayou La Batre, Ala. The tugs will be the fourth and fifth designed for Crescent by Jensen. The 5,360-hp boats will be powered by GE 8L250 Tier 3 main engines turning Rolls-Royce US 255FP Z-drives, which will produce 70 MT of bollard pull, and a modified staple placement is expected to increase steering forces by approximately 30%. The tugs are scheduled for delivery in November 2015 and January 2016.
Moran Iron Works, Onaway, Mich., landed a contract to build a new all-aluminum passenger ferry for Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, also in Michigan. The new 85-footer, to be named Miss Margy, is scheduled to carry its first passengers to the Lake Huron resort island next July. The Subchapter K boat will carry up to 281 passengers at a top speed of 40 mph.
Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La., has added two new drydocks with a total lifting capacity of 12,000 tons. One of the docks, Mr. Eric, measures 320'×100' between the wing walls. The 10,500-ton drydock is located at Bollinger’s Port Fourchon, La., facility, where it joins two other floating drydocks. The other new drydock, with a 1,500-ton capacity, will be located at Bollinger Quick Repair in Harvey, La. It measures 160'×60'.
