The editors of WorkBoat recently chose the 10 Significant Boats of 2014. In the past, we have announced and recognized the 10 winners during an awards ceremony at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans.
This year we have changed the format. Not only will we recognize this year’s 10 winners at a breakfast awards ceremony before the show opens on Thursday, Dec. 4, but we will also select a Boat of the Year from among the 10 winners.
This year's winners include pilot boats, tugs, a Z-drive towboat, a passenger vessel, a fuel-service vessel, OSVs and a cargo/transport vessel. The winning owners/operators, shipyards and designers are from all coasts and represent most workboat sectors.
Here are the 2014 winners, in alphabetical order (boat name, owner/operator, shipyard and designer):
Astoria, Columbia River Bar Pilots, Kvichak Marine Industries, Camarc Design
Buckley McAllister, McAllister Towing & Transportation, Senesco Marine, Jensen Maritime Consultants
Capt. Frank Banta Jr., Chem Carriers, Rodriguez Shipbuilding/Chem Carriers, Rodriguez Shipbuilding/Chem Carriers
Fort Ripley, Southeast Ocean Response Services/Charleston Branch Pilots Association, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding/C. Raymond Hunt Associates
Great Expectations, John W. Stone Oil Distributor/Edison Chouest Offshore, La Ship, Edison Chouest Offshore
Hornblower Guardian, Hornblower Cruises & Events, All American Marine, Elliott Bay Design Group
HOSMAX 300- and 310-Class, Hornbeck Offshore Services, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Vard Marine
Signet Arcturus and Signet Polaris, Signet Maritime, Patti Marine Enterprises, Robert Allan Ltd.
Tender 4, New York State Canal Corp., New York State Canal Corp., Elco Motor Yachts
Unalaq, Bowhead Transport, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Columbia-Sentinel Engineers
Congratulations to the winners.
Be sure to register for the show, which runs from Dec. 3-5.