DECEMBER 30, 2015 — Philly Shipyard, Inc. reports that it has signed a commitment letter with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial) for a $150 million loan facility to finance the construction
DECEMBER 30, 2015 — Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (NASDAQ: GIFI) reports that it has executed an asset purchase agreement with LEEVAC Shipyards, LLC and its related affiliates under which LEEVAC will sell
DECEMBER 29, 2015 — The Annapolis, MD, based Eclipse Group, Inc. has acquired the R/V New Horizon, a 170 ft U.S. flagged research vessel delivered from what was then the Atlantic Marine
DECEMBER 29, 2015 — China’s Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group reports that its Zhejiang Shipyard has delivered three SPP17A platform supply vessels to the Mexico’s Naviera Petrolera Integral S.A. de C.V. The three PSVs
DECEMBER 29, 2015 — Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd reports that subsidiaries have secured four contracts from repeat customers worth a total of about S$125 million (about US$89 million). In Singapore, Keppel
The agency last week signed a Notice to Proceed giving shipbuilder Vigor Industrial the go ahead to get started on work on the fourth vessel in the 144-vehicle capacity ferry series and work will begin in January.
The new ferry is funded through the Connecting Washington transportation package which is being paid for through a hike in state gasoline taxes.
WSF is building the Olympic Class ferries to replace some of the fleet’s oldest vessels. The Olympic Class design is based on the Issaquah class, the most versatile vessel in the WSF fleet.
Two of four are in service, the third will be complete in 2017 and the fourth is scheduled for completion in 2018.
The first vessel, Tokitae, joined the Mukilteo/Clinton route in June 2014. The second, Samish, was put into service on the Anacortes/San Juans Island route in June 2015. Chimacum, the third ferry, will replace one of the older vessels on the Seattle/Bremerton route in 2017.
“Our top priority is keeping the ferry system safe and reliable for the millions of commuters, freight haulers and travelers who depend on us every year,” said WSF Chief of Staff Elizabeth Kosa. “Thanks to state lawmakers and critical funds from Connecting Washington, we are able to meet some of the ferry system’s most urgent needs, including building this new ferry.”
Like the other vessels in the class, the fourth ferry will be built at Vigor Industrial, supporting about 500 jobs at Vigor’s Seattle shipyard and contractors around the region.
The budget to build the vessel is $122 million, and delivery is scheduled for mid-2018.
The Washington State Transportation Commission is leading a public process to determine the fourth ferry’s name.
Olympic Class ferries are equipped with the latest emergency-evacuation and fire-suppression systems, two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant elevators, and wider car-deck lanes that provide more room for passengers to access their vehicles.
The vessels’ hull design reduces wake and provides better fuel efficiency, while cleaner burning engines reduce emissions.
The first two Olympic Class ferries were delivered on time and under budget. The third vessel, under construction at Vigor, is on schedule and under budget and will be assigned to the Seattle/Bremerton route in early 2017.
DECEMBER 28, 2015 — Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc., Panama City, FL, reports that its Allanton shipyard recently delivered M/V Harvey Sbisa (Hull 192). The 90 ft inland towboat is the sixty second
The barges are being built for Belgium based Plouvier Transport N.V. The hulls are under construction at VEKA Shipbuilding BV’s CENTROMOST shipyard in Poland and outfitting will be carried out at VEKA’s Werkendam shipyard in the Netherlands.
The barges will operate primarily on LNG and, for each barge, Wärtsilä will also supply a 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel main engine, a gearbox, an LNGPac fuel gas handling system (developed in close cooperation with Cryonorm), and a Wärtsilä propeller with an HR nozzle. The equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yards commencing in June 2016.The contract with Wärtsilä was concluded in December.
“Wärtsilä’s total solution capabilities, and its unmatched experience in LNG fuel machinery and systems for marine applications, are providing leading shipowners and operators with the added value they require. We salute everyone involved in this important project for their support in making inland waterway shipping more environmentally sustainable,” says Bram Kruyt, Director Inland Waterways, Wärtsilä.
DECEMBER 24, 2015 — Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV) recently completed work on the 800 passenger cruise ship Marco Polo. Owned by Global Maritime and operated by Cruise & Maritime Voyages, the ship
The shipyard is the sole operating subsidiary of Oslo-listed Philly Shipyard ASA, which is majority-owned by Converto Capital Fund, which in turn is majority-owned by Aker ASA.
“We are proud to deliver another ship to Crowley and the first under our new name, Philly Shipyard. The Texas, like our 21 previously delivered vessels, continues the long tradition of men and women building quality vessels in Philadelphia,” said Philly Shipyard President and CEO Steinar Nerbovik. “As we continue to build the eight ships in our backlog, we are always looking for more skilled men and women to add to our team.”
The 50,000 dwt, 330,000-barrel-capacity Texas and sister ship Ohio, which was delivered to Crowley in October, are first ever tankers to receive ABS(ABS) LNG-Ready Level 1 approval, meaning Crowley has the option to convert the tanker to liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled propulsion in the future. The remaining two product tankers being built by Philly Shipyards for Crowley have planned deliveries from the shipbuilder in 2016.
“We are excited to close out 2015 with the addition of this technologically advanced vessel to our fleet of U.S.-coastwise product tankers,” said Rob Grune, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager, petroleum and chemical transportation. “We constantly strive for ways to enhance the services we provide to our chemical and petroleum customers. The introduction of vessels like Ohio and Texas, with their advanced technology and environmentally friendly fuel options, prove that we are innovating the industry and we are doing it with American built, Jones Act vessels.”
The new 50,000 dwt product tankers are based on a proven Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) design which incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability, and meets the latest regulatory requirements. The vessel is 600 feet long and is capable of carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products.
Crowley’s Seattle-based, naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary Jensen Maritime is providing construction management services for the product tankers. Jensen now has an on-site office and personnel at the Philadelphia shipyard to ensure strong working relationships with shipyard staff and a seamless construction and delivery program.