Search Results for: harbor tug

Canada’s Atlantic Towing wins tidal energy support contract

Cape Sharp Tidal is a joint venture between Emera Inc. and OpenHydro, a DCNS company, which aims to deploying a fully grid connected 4MW tidal array in the Bay of Fundy in 2015. The project has the potential to be one of the world’s first multi-megawatt arrays of interconnected tidal turbines, initially providing energy to over 1,000 customers in Nova Scotia. Longer term, the project is looking towards delivering 300 MW of tidal turbine generated power to Nova Scotia in the next decade.

The Atlantic Towing contract covers the provision of specialized services including harbor and terminal towage, ocean and coastal towage, barging services, and offshore support such as anchor installation. These services, as scheduled, will employ up to 28 seafarers currently working for Atlantic Towing.

Three Atlantic Towing ASD tugs—the Atlantic Hemlock, the Atlantic Bear and the Atlantic Spruce— and the Irving Beaver Barge, will support the project in the strong Bay of Fundy ocean currents.

In addition to anchor and cable installation, the tugs will transport two 1,000-tonne tidal turbines on their journey from Pictou to the Minas Passage on a purpose-built 1,150 tonne capacity OpenHydro barge, the Scotia Tide.

Once in position, the tugs will maneuver the barge and turbine while crews lower the turbine to the seabed and connect the cables to the Nova Scotia power grid.

The subsea cables, on-shore transmission lines and power infrastructure belong to the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) in Parrsboro.

“We’re pleased to be working with the skilled crew of Atlantic Towing on the marine operations for Cape Sharp Tidal,” said James Ives, OpenHydro’s Chief Executive. “The company shares our commitment to safety and offers real-life experience in the Bay of Fundy that will help us achieve this ground-breaking project.”

“We have safely operated in challenging sea conditions like the strong Bay of Fundy currents and tides for more than 50 years,” said Gilles Gagnon, Atlantic Towing Vice President and General Manager. “Working on the Cape Sharp Tidal project is a perfect fit for our local team’s expertise and capability.”

Other Nova Scotia companies are also providing services and expertise to the Cape Sharp Tidal project. In May, a $25-million contract was awarded to Aecon Group Inc. and naval architect firm Lengkeek Vessel Engineering. Two hundred and fifty Aecon employees are currently building and assembling the turbine components and the Scotia Tide barge in its facilities in Dartmouth and Pictou while Lengkeek, based in Dartmouth, earned the contract for barge design. In July, Chester-based Hawboldt Industries was awarded a $4.6-million contract to design and manufacture three heavy lift winches for the barge.

MarAd project to convert towboat engine to burn LNG

OCTOBER 8, 2015—The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced that it will provide over $1 million to support the development of two new emission-reducing maritime solutions.  The first is

  • News

New thruster targets inland waterways market

Among innovations incorporated into the WST-14 are its space-saving compact design, an integrated slipping clutch that provides a cost competitive solution for maneuvering when combined with a fixed pitch (FP) propeller, and the ability to maintain and service the propeller shaft and steering seals without requiring a complete overhaul of the thruster. It has a straightforward, reliable design and is ice-class rated.

By combining the 6-cylinder in-line Wärtsilä 20 engine with the WST-14 thruster, a solution package that is well-suited to the specific demands of river and inland waterway operation can be offered. It also attractive for other marine applications, such as tugs, where maneuvering in harbors and/or ice conditions is required.  

Wärtsilä says that, compared to conventional fixed pitch (FP) and controllable pitch (CP) propeller drive line solutions, the WST-14 thruster enables a greater load capacity for the vessel. This offers increased revenues for the owner/operator since more cargo can be transported.

“This project began two years ago and we are delighted to announce that the WST-14 is now available to the market. This introduction fills a particular need in the inland waterway vessel sector, and it is already attracting interest from owners and yards in Asia, Europe and America. Wärtsilä is now able to offer a complete and highly efficient propulsion package for this specific market,” says Arto Lehtinen, Vice President, Propulsion, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

The WST-14 will be featured at the Neva exhibition to be held in St.Petersburg, Russia, September 22-25, 2015.

Wärtsilä 20 engine with the WST-14 thruster

WST14 W6L20

USS Arizona Memorial still closed to visitors

MAY 29, 2015 — The USS Arizona Memorial remained closed to visitors today as repair work continued on the floating dock used by boat tour groups to access the Memorial. Initial reports

  • News

Repower gives stretched Polar Bear more speed

FEBRUARY 9, 2015 — There is a high demand for landing craft along the Alaskan coast where many communities are only accessible by water, but there are few ports or even rudimentary

  • News

Nichols Brothers to build ferry superstructure

JANUARY 16, 2015 — Vigor Industrial has awarded Ice Floe, LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders a contract to construct the superstructure portion of the third Olympic Class 144-car Washington State Ferry,