Metal Shark delivers 75 ft port security fireboat

Based on the shipbuilder’s Endurance-class catamaran design, the welded aluminum vessel incorporates sophisticated technology to support fire rescue missions, Command and Control (C2) operations, and around-the-clock port security efforts at the port, which stretches 54 miles along the Mississippi River.

Twin Cat C-18 diesel engines in a conventional straight-shaft inboard configuration propel the vessel’s catamaran hull to cruising speeds of 25 knots while giving it a nominal operating range of over 500 miles.

For firefighting, two dedicated drive engines channel up to 6,000 total gallons per minute through an oversized water main where electronic valves divert water to three radio frequency-controlled monitors. Four additional 2.5″ hydrant connections and a 400-gallon foam reservoir provide maximum flexibility across the spectrum of firefighting needs.

The spacious pilothouse provides 360-visibility and comfortable below decks quarters offer bunking capacity for six or more crew members, fully equipping the vessel to stay on station for extended periods.

A state of the art Command and Control suite facilitiates multi-agency coordination during emergency response events, with a positive-pressure Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) ventilation system protecting the crew in disaster response situations.

“Our 75 ft Endurance is the most advanced fireboat design on the market, incorporating crew friendly features and advanced systems throughout,” said Metal Shark president Chris Allard. “Metal Shark is honored to have been selected by PSLA to deliver this new vessel. We trust that this new Metal Shark will meet PSLA’s needs, help keep their port secure, and potentially save many lives for years to come.”

A product of Metal Shark’s Franklin, LA, shipyard, the 75 ft Endurance can be custom-configured to suit a wide range of mission profiles. Metal Shark offers the vessel with a wide range of power and propulsion systems, including conventional inboards, water jets and pods, to meet various performance requirements.

Virtually every vessel feature, from firefighting equipment and capacity, onboard systems, general arrangement, berth capacity, etc. can be adapted to suit the needs of individual customers and agencies. In addition to port security and fire rescue, the 75 ft Endurance can be configured for dive support, law enforcement, defense, and numerous commercial markets. Endurance-class vessels are available from 45 ft and up.

Davie set to start box ship to fleet oiler conversion

The project will see Davie convert MV Asterix, a 183 m containership acquired from Greece’s Capital Ship Management for a reported Canadian $20 million, into a stop gap fleet oiler for the Royal Canadian Navy. Some of the work will be done by the Aecon Group, whose Pictou, Nova Scotia, facility specializes in pipe fabrication. At one time it was thought that the Asterix would go first to Aecon’s Pictou shipyard, but its arrival at Davie indicates that Aecon will work on the ship there.

The interim fleet oiler is needed because of the earlier than anticipated retirement of Canada’s Protecteur-class ships.

In March last year, Davie and its partners, Aecon, naval architect firm NavTech and V.Ships, set out to find an interim solution that would provide a fast-track, affordable, compliant and fully managed service.

After over one year of design, engineering and planning, after a lengthy consultation with industry, an agreement was reached in August 2015 with the Government of Canada to provide at-sea support services to the Royal Canadian Navy.That agreement is a letter of intent that, according to the Government, provided the two companies “with the ability to start limited activities to advance the schedule. It will also provide some financial protection to the shipyard for these expenses, should a contract not be awarded. Any proposed costs would be pre-approved by the government, which will require Davie to provide a rationale in every instance.”

What the status of an actual contract is remains unclear. But the Asterix is already at the shipyard with Davie saying that the “acquisition from its former owners is now complete.”

The cost of the conversion has been reported as Canadian $250-300 million.

Once converted, the ship will be chartered to the Canadian Government by Project Resolve, Inc. which, like Davie, is a subsidiary of privately held, Monaco headquartered Inocea Group.

Reportedly, the Canadian Government will pay Canadian $75 million a year to charter the vessel. The ship will be crewed with Canadian merchant mariners.

Yesterday, the ship provided the back drop for the introduction of the CEO of Project Resolve Inc., Spencer Fraser, to the Lévis-Bellechasse candidates. He likely showed them some of the pictures you see here.

Resolve SM2

project resolve finished product

Resolve exploded

Cammell Laird to build $307 million polar research ship

The decision follows a 12-month competitive tender process that involved bids from shipyards in the U.K., Spain, Norway, Singapore and South Korea.

The Birkenhead shipyard is expected to cut steel in autumn 2016 and deliver the next generation polar research vessel ready for operation by 2019.

Cammell Laird Chief Executive John Syvret said: “The new contract, which will be finalized later this year, is expected to secure 400 jobs at Cammell Laird and a further 100 jobs within the local supply chain. Cammell Laird has a very successful apprenticeship scheme and would plan to recruit 60 apprentices throughout the term of the contract. Being selected as the preferred bidder in a global tender to undertake such an exciting and major infrastructure project is fantastic news for our workforce, the local region and the U.K. We look forward to helping the U.K. explore the depths of the ocean and push the boundaries of U.K. science.”

The new polar research ship, which will operate in both Antarctica and the Arctic, will be able to endure up to 60 days in sea-ice to enable scientists to gather more observations and data.

It is expected to have ice-breaking capabilities that will allow it to break ice up to one meter thick when traveling at 3 knots and will be able to accommodate up to 60 researchers and technical support staff.

The ship will be the first British-built polar research vessel with a heli-deck to open up new locations for science and will be one of the most sophisticated floating research laboratories operating in the Polar Regions.

Funding for the new polar research ship was announced in April 2014 as part of the U.K. Government’s science capital program.

Cammell Laird has been selected by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) through a full competitive procurement process.

NERC Chief Executive Professor Duncan Wingham said: “This new research ship, which is expected to become operational in 2019, will be equipped with onboard laboratory facilities and will be capable of deploying robotic technologies to monitor environmental changes to the polar oceans and will help U.K. scientists continue to lead the world in understanding our polar regions.

“Changes in both the Antarctic and Artic marine ecosystems affect the U.K.’s environment and economy, particularly in industries such as fishing and tourism. The Natural Environment Research Council funds polar research so that as a nation, we can develop policies to adapt to, mitigate or live with environmental change.

“This new polar ship will be a platform for a broad range of science, researching subjects from oceanography and marine ecology to geophysics.”

The new ice-strengthened ship will be operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), on behalf of NERC.

Aker Philly cuts steel for two more Kinder Morgan tankers

Construction on the two Jones Act vessels officially began in the shipyard’s fabrication shop when guest of honor Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack pushed the button on the shipyard’s plasma cutting machine. The first steel plates that were cut will later become part of the engine room.

At the ceremony, the shipbuilder’s President and CEOI, Steinar Nerbovik, said: “With construction underway on these two product tankers, we celebrate the capstone of an exciting eight tanker series that is part of Philadelphia’s contribution to the energy landscape of this country. The 1,100 men and women working at the shipyard will be busy for years to come completing these tankers and the other vessels we have under contract.”

“We are very pleased to be working with the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard on the construction of four, LNG-conversion-ready tankers, and the start of construction of these two vessels marks a milestone for our expanding fleet,” said Robert Kurz, Vice President of Kinder Morgan Terminals and President of APT. “There continues to be a strong demand for domestic marine transportation of petroleum products and crude oil, and these tankers will provide Kinder Morgan with additional new tonnage to better service our customers.”
The next generation 50,000 dwt product tanker is based on a proven Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) design that incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability, and the latest regulatory requirements. When completed, each of the 600-foot tankers will have a carrying capacity of 14.5 million gallons to transport crude oil or refined products.

Also under construction at the shipyard are three 50,000 dwt product tankers for Crowley with planned deliveries through 2016, the first two 50,000 dwt tankers for APT with planned deliveries in 2016 and 2017, and two containerships for Matson Navigation Company, Inc. with planned deliveries in 2018.

Mystery owner asks Incat Crowther to design fast ferry

The main deck allows for four passenger loading stations and features a large cabin, hosting 286 first-class seats, 20 lounge seats, and four handicap accommodation seating areas. The cabin also features a kid’s play area with surrounding seating.

On the aft deck is a cargo room with cargo loading gates, able to fit a portable conveyor belt for efficient loading and unloading. The aft deck also features three restrooms, one of them handicapped accessible.

The mid deck features cabin hosting 144 first-class seats and 32 lounge seats.

Forward of the cabin is the raised wheelhouse, with wing control stations on port and starboard sides. Aft of the cabin, a spacious deck that offers 112 exterior seats. A mini-bar is located in the center of the arrangement with a stage for entertainment behind the cabin.

The upper deck provides a large observation area including 36 exterior seats.Five  MTU 16V400M63L engines power the ferries five Hamilton HM-811 water jets  via ZF-7650 gearboxes, giving it a service speed of 37 knots.

Electrical requirements are met by two 150 ekW generator sets.

A 200hp bow thruster will enhance maneuverability and station keeping.

No word on the shipbuilder.

incat monohull

Damen delivers the second of two Mamola PSVs

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 — Following a naming ceremony in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday, Promar Shipping Services has taken delivery of Mamola Defender. the second of two Damen PSV 3300 platform supply vessels ordered

Egypt to buy Mistrals ordered by Russia from France

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 —  A brief announcement from the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the President of France, said today that President Francois Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had

Viking Neptun gets a gig in Ghana

 

The contract has been secured through the Ghanaian entity Eidesvik Ghana Limited, which is operated by Ghanaian partners in cooperation with Eidesvik, and Technip.

The firm contract period is 50 days plus mobilization period with an option for charterers to extend the scope of work by a further 50 days. Work is expected to start in the middle of the fourth quarter of this year.

Designed by Salt Ship Design, the 145 m x 31 m OCV has a 400 ton crane and was delivered by shipbuilder Kleven Verft’s Eidesvik, Norway, shipyard in February 2015.

Eidesvik Offshore says the ship “stands out as an excellent base for complex subsea operations” and with the joint crew from Technip and Eidesvik has delivered excellent performance.

“The vessel has been operating for Technip since she was delivered from the yard and we are very pleased to continue the good relation and cooperation between the Technip and Eidesvik teams onboard the vessel and onshore”, says Jan Fredrik Meling, CEO of Eidesvik Offshore ASA.
The end-user is Tullow Ghana Limited, the operator and part-owner of the TEN field in Ghana.

VIDEO: Chilean Navy scuttles salvaged ferry

Following the grounding, the ferry, the 126.31 m Amadeo I operated by Navimag, was parbuckled and refloated by Resolve Marine, in an operation that was the subject of a case study presented at this year’s Marine Log Marine Salvage Conference by Sam Kendall-Marsden, Syndicate Director, Charles Taylor and Co. Limited and Todd Schauer, Director of Operations, Resolve Fire & Salvage (Americas), Inc.

Subsequent to the salvage, however, insurers declared the vessel a Total Constructive Loss.

amadeo 500pxThe Chilean Maritime Authority (DIRECTEMAR), which is a department of the Chilean Navy, granted permission for the vessel to be sunk under its supervision in 2,700 m of water, northwest of Puerto Natales and over 70 km off Diego de Almagro Island.

Photo from DIRECTEMAR shows Amadeo I prior to parbuckling operation

The sinking was the final chapter in a story that began in 1976 when the vessel was delivered by Norwegian shipbuilder Trosvik Versted as the Seaspeed Dana. Since then, the vessel had sailed under a variety of owners, flags and names.

According to the Chilean Navy, DIRECTEMAR decided that the vessel should be sunk as hull damage was so extensive as not to allow for safe passage during towing to a port for scrapping. Dismantling the ferry in situ was also ruled out because of the risk of serious environmental impact from what would have been a long operation in a location subject to extreme weather conditions.

The Chilean Navy says that prior planning to ensure compliance with strict precautions for the protection of the marine environment meant that the sinking went “smoothly and according to plan.”

DOF charters in PSV from Vard for Chevron job

The vessel, now named Skandi Responder, is a VARD 1 08 design platform supply vessel. According to Vard it is the first of two vessels whose original shipbuilding contracts were terminated earlier this year. It has now been delivered from the Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam and sold to Vard Shipholding Singapore Pte. Ltd., a newly established wholly-owned subsidiary of Vard Holdings.

Vard says that it continues to explore opportunities for a sale of the vessel. The second PSV whose contract was terminated is still under construction at Vard Vung Tau, with an expected completion date in second quarter 2016.

Vard CEO and Executive Director Roy Reite commented, “I am delighted that together with our long-term client DOF, we have found a solution that secures employment for this vessel following completion at the yard in Vung Tau. Securing this charter in today’s difficult market is proof of the attractiveness of Vard-built vessels for some of the most demanding jobs in the offshore industry, and I am confident that successfully operating it in Australia will increase our chances for a sale.”

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