WorkBoat November 2020

Pacific Marine Expo • Drones • Research Vessels ®

IN BUSINESS ON THE COASTAL AND INLAND WATERS

No Energy The offshore market deals with Covid-19 and an active hurricane season.

NOVEMBER 2020

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The Troms Arcturus, a 3,801-dwt PSV contracted to Equinor in the North NOVEMBER 2020 • VOLUME 77, NO. 11

Sea, tied up in Stavanger, Norway. Photo courtesy of Tidewater Inc.

FEATURES 20 Vessel Report: Fact Finding A roundup of several newbuild research vessels.

30 Cover Story: Troubled Waters The distressed offshore market looks to mid-2021.

40 Pacific Marine Expo The PME Expo and conference program goes virtual.

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BOATS & GEAR 24 On the Ways • Blount delivers new 56' tug with reinforced hull to New York Power Authority • American Cruise Lines takes delivery of new 190-passenger overnight cruise vessel from Chesapeake Shipbuilding • Metal Shark builds its first private yacht • Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding delivers 53' Chesapeake-class pilot boat to St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots Association • Edison Chouest to build and operate first Jones Act service operations vessel for offshore wind industry • MetalCraft Marine delivers two 34' patrol RIBs to Mississippi • Manson Construction awards contract to Keppel AmFELS to build 420'x81', 15,000-cu.-yd. selfpropelled hopper dredge.

36 Air it Out Drones are making inroads in the maritime insdustry.

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AT A GLANCE 8 8 9 10 10 12 14

On the Water: Plan ahead and beware — Part II. Captain’s Table: Young people are the industry’s future.

Energy Level: Hydrogen and offshore wind team up.

WB Stock Index: WorkBoat stocks post small loss in September.

Inland Insider: Barged shipments of crude oil continue to fall.

Insurance Watch: Back to work after Covid-19.

Legal Talk: The case of the salvaged corpse.

NEWS LOG 18 18 18 18

Drilling moratorium will affect offshore wind, industry group says.

New York’s Bouchard Transportation files for Chapter 11.

Austal purchases former Bender Shipbuilding property.

More information on 2019 dive boat fire that killed 34 released by NTSB.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

DEPARTMENTS 2 6 44 51 52

Editor’s Watch Mail Bag Port of Call Advertisers Index WB Looks Back

1

be rescued.

Editor’sWatch

Sometimes, even the rescuers need Offshore looks to 2021 to be rescued.

W

Because they watch over us. Because they give so much.

Sometimes, even the rescuers Give to theneed

to be rescued.

Coast Guard Foundation To learn more, visit RescueTheRescuers.org

Because they watch over us. Because they give so much.

Give to the

hen the year began, you may have thought that business could not possibly get any worse for the beleaguered offshore energy sector. Well, it did.

2020 has seen the coronavirus pandemic’s negative impact on fossil fuel demand plus a busy hurricane season with 25 named storms (as of Oct. 6), just two shy of 2005’s record.

With 2020 coming to a close, most industry officials and analysts agree that it will be at least until mid-2021 before business improves. By then, the offshore sector will hopefully have regrouped after a year that saw E&P budgets slashed, projects deferred, several bankruptcies, and offshore service vessels laid up at its highest pace in two years.

In our cover story that begins on page 30, Jim Redden writes that the big question mark is what direction oil prices will take. Veteran energy analyst G. Allen Brooks told WorkBoat that “the big thing is for people to feel confident where oil prices are going.”

But it’s not all gloom and doom.

Matthew Rigdon, executive vice president and chief operating officer of OSV operator Jackson Offshore Operators, believes the rig count has bottomed out and can only go up from here. “I think that is the bottom, but I also think it will be mid-next year before we get any clarity as to what’s going to happen,” he told us. “I’m optimistic we’ll see activity starting to accelerate toward the latter half of next year. I think it’s not unreasonable to think that we could get back to 20 or so rigs in the Gulf by the end of next year. That may be a little aggressive and too optimistic, but it’s not unreasonable.”

auseCoastthey watch Guard Foundation er us.

Because y give so much.

To learn more, visit RescueTheRescuers.org

2

David Krapf, Editor in Chief

And Rigdon sees opportunities emerging in Trinidad and neighboring deepwater hot spot Guyana, which is serviced nearly entirely by U.S.-flagged vessels and their higher liquid mud carrying capacities.

U.S. OSV operators also see opportunity in the emerging U.S. East Coast offshore wind energy sector, where three Tidewater vessels have been involved, on and off, in site surveying.

“That’s (offshore wind) picking up for sure. It’s been talked about for some time, but now seems to be getting some momentum,” Tidewater’s Jason Stanley said. “It’s pretty exciting to see some of that take place.”

dkrapf@divcom.com

WORKBOAT® (ISSN 0043-8014) is published monthly by Diversified Business Communications and Diversified Publications, 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112-7438. Editorial Office: P.O. Box 1348, Mandeville, LA 70470.

Annual Subscription Rates: U.S. $39; Canada $55; International $103. When available, extra copies of current issue are $4, all other issues and special issues are $5. For subscription customer service call (978) 671-0444. The publisher reserves the right to sell subscriptions to those who have purchasing power in the industry this publication serves. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, ME, and additional mailing offices. Circulation Office: 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112-7438. From time to time, we make your name and address available to other companies whose products and services may interest you. If you prefer not to receive such mailings, please send a copy of your mailing label to: WorkBoat’s Mailing Preference Service, P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WORKBOAT, P.O. Box 1792, Lowell, MA 01853. Copyright 20 18

by Diversified Business Communications.

Printed in U.S.A.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

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EDITOR IN CHIEF

David Krapf dkrapf@divcom.com

SENIOR EDITOR

Ken Hocke khocke@divcom.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Kirk Moore kmoore@divcom.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ART DIRECTOR

PUBLISHING OFFICES

• Capt. Alan Bernstein • Bruce Buls • Michael Crowley • Dale K. DuPont • Pamela Glass • Betsy Frawley Haggerty • Max Hardberger • Joel Milton • Jim Redden • Kathy Bergren Smith

Doug Stewart dstewart@divcom.com

Main Office: 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438 • Portland, ME 04112-7438 • (207) 842-5608 • Fax: (207) 842-5609 Southern/Editorial Office: P.O. Box 1348 • Mandeville, LA 70470 Subscription Information: (978) 671-0444 • cs@e-circ.net General Information: (207) 842-5610

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EXPOSITIONS

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Wendy Jalbert 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438 • Portland, ME 04112-7438 (207) 842-5616 • Fax: (207) 842-5611 wjalbert@divcom.com

(207) 842-5508 • Fax: (207) 842-5509 Producers of The International WorkBoat Show and Pacific Marine Expo www.workboatshow.com www.pacificmarineexpo.com

Christine Salmon (207) 842-5530 • Fax: (207) 842-5509 csalmon@divcom.com Theodore Wirth Bob Callahan bcallahan@divcom.com

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

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Enjoyed August story

T

hanks so much for the August story (“Woman’s Touch,” August 2020, page 16). It’s an amazing piece, and I’m so grateful to you for sharing my story. I heard from Adm. Buzby (Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby, Maritime Administrator) right away saying how proud he is.

We will share the article on our

social media and in our next newsletter. Thank you again.

Please let me know if I can be a resource to you in the future, even if that means connecting you with women in our community.

Ally Cedeno Founder and President Women Offshore Foundation womenoffshore.org Houston, Texas

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How about WorkBoat covering other years?

H

ere is a thought for improving your magazine. In your archives on the last page of your timely and professional magazine (WorkBoat Looks Back), you look back to 1960, 1970 and 1980, which is very good. But what about 1990, 2000 and 2010?

Since our maritime industry changes more and more and faster every year, it might be a good idea to update and broaden the scope of your WorkBoat Looks Back article.

It has been a pleasure to read WorkBoat for many years and I continue to do so. Please keep it up.

Capt. Michael McCright Master Mariner, Principal Maritime Synergy Enterprises LLC Houston, Texas

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e at C-Hero just wanted to extend a big Bravo Zulu and our sincere thanks on the recent article by Pam Glass regarding man overboard (MOB) on WorkBoat.com.

Even with the rollout of Subchapter M, we get the impression that the industry is slow to embrace how these drills are supposed to be conducted per Subsection 140.420 Emergency Drills & Instruction.

Your timely article really helps deliver the message of how important it is to practice, practice and practice again.

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Thanks for the man overboard story

Editor’s note: Correspondent Pam Glass’ story, “Constant training can help prevent man overboard incidents,” was published on WorkBoat.com on Sept. 3, 2020. (https://www.workboat. com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/ constant-training-can-help-preventman-overboard-incidents/)

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www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

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On the Water

Plan ahead and be aware — Part II

S

By Joel Milton

Joel Milton works on towing vessels.

He can be reached at joelmilton@ yahoo.com.

o how did several truck drivers wind up on the bridge deck of New York’s VerrazzanoNarrows Bridge just as the peak winds of Tropical Storm Isaias were passing through in early August and, as a result, overturned?

The answer? For the very same reason that mariners often fail to seek out and correctly interpret the readily available information for the planning and execution of their voyage or they ignore, or fail to grasp the significance of, broadcast warnings of approaching or imminent danger.

In short, we are often simply lousy at accurately judging risk, even when we have access to accurate data. Second, we also exhibit laziness.

We do this by expecting someone else to not only monitor the world at large on our behalf, but to also warn us of any hazards that might befall us while we generally fail to pay adequate attention.

We expect others to essentially save us from ourselves. Top it all off with seeing things through

Captain’s Table

Young people are our future

A

By Capt. Alan Bernstein

Alan Bernstein, owner of BB Riverboats in Cincinnati, is a licensed master and a former president of the Passenger Vessel Association. He can be reached at 859-292-2449 or abernstein@ bbriverboats.com.

8

s I approach my 70s and with over 40 years in the passenger vessel industry, I find myself looking back more and more these days.

These experiences have molded me into who I am today, and they influence my opinions.

Hard work is very important. My father taught me that it is the key to success. Another is education. When you put the two together, you have an unbeatable combination. Whether it is high school, college, or vocational training, education prepares you for the challenges of life and work.

Promoting education is a win-win for everyone and will result in a better future workforce.

The maritime industry continues to have a tough time finding workers. While the coronavirus pandemic certainly doesn’t help, we will eventually emerge from it and again need qualified mariners and workers. For years, we have been wringing our hands trying to attract people to our industry. We have participated in job fairs and similar events to try to sell students and others on the career opportunities our industry has to offer, and come away with mixed results.

rose-colored glasses: the unfounded optimism that whatever one is doing is indeed “doable” and therefore can and should be done. These tendencies can sometimes lead to poor and even catastrophic outcomes.

It’s true that the police could have closed down the bridge to prevent the accidents. Protocols do exist for just such a wind event. Apparently, however, the actionable wind speed thresholds were just being approached as the trucks neared and rolled up the ramps onto the bridge. With the inherent lag time in implementing the closure, it was too little too late. Perhaps the protocols were insufficiently restrictive for high-profile vehicles or more on-duty police would have shut it down quicker.

Regardless, no one stopped the truck drivers from entering the danger zone. But neither did anyone force them to cross the bridge during the tropical storm. The behavioral bias was to simply do whatever was permitted, assuming that if it was permitted it must be safe and that if it weren’t safe then it wouldn’t have been allowed.

These assumptions, as they often do, proved to be false.

Recognizing this ongoing challenge, the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) is working to foster strong relationships with U.S. maritime academies. PVA’s hope is to increase the visibility of careers in the passenger vessel industry among maritime academy cadets. PVA has also hosted several cadet interns at its headquarters in Alexandria, Va., to familiarize them with the passenger vessel industry. The interns toured PVA member operations, participated in meetings and conventions, and took part in visits with Congressional leaders and staff and federal regulatory officials. PVA recognized early in the process that not all cadets want to go to sea after graduating and some are interested in marine operations and the business aspects of running passenger vessel companies shoreside.

But what can we do to attract mariners and others to our vessels and businesses? All segments of our industry should set a goal of working closely with local schools, community colleges, universities, and trade schools to promote careers in our industry.

We cannot sit back and hope that future employees will automatically come to us. We must be proactive. Young people are our future and we need to make an investment in them sooner than later. This cannot happen fast enough. www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

WORKBOAT GOM INDICATORS

Energy Level

Hydrogen and offshore wind join forces

.

JULY '20 WTI Crude Oil 41.46 Baker Hughes Rig Count 12 IHS OSV Utilization 19.4% U.S. Oil Production (millions bpd) 11.1

AUG. '20 42.44 13 22.6% 10.8*

Sources: Baker-Hughes; IHS Markit; EIA Prod *Weekly Estimated WTI PriceU.S.U.S. 1000s bopd

SEPT. '19 54.09 22 30.4% 12.5

GOM Rig Count Util. Rate %

GOM RIG COUNT

GOM Rig Count

By Jim Redden 25

T

hough offshore wind gets most of the ink, hydrogen fuel cell and liquefaction technologies are quietly moving up in the renewable energy pecking order.

Today, researchers are concentrating on mass production and transportation technologies they believe could help lower the now-prohibitive cost of hydrogen as a widely available fuel source.

A recent International Energy Agency (IEA) analysis found that given the declining costs of renewable energy technologies and the scaling up of hydrogen (H2) production, using H2 for generating renewable electricity could fall 30% by 2030.

In the U.S., the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has long been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at reducing the costs of producing and distributing H2 fuel cells for transportation and other commercial enterprises.

However, Europe is far ahead of the U.S. in developments aimed at making hydrogen a viable and accessible energy source, having already established a growing offshore wind energy industry.

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA is looking at combining the two, with an ambitious plan to use hydrogen produced from offshore wind energy to begin fueling vehicles by January.

The German conglomerate was expected to conclude testing this month at a hydrogen pilot plant in western Denmark. The facility includes a threemegawatt wind turbine and an electrolyzer, which separates hydrogen atoms in water from oxygen atoms. Production is expected to begin in January with Denmark’s Everfuel Europe A/S on tap to distribute the newly created gas for taxis, buses and other vehicles

SEPT. '20 40.47 14 20.9% 10.7*

20 15 10

9/19

9/20

5 0 1

2

3

4

5

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that traverse Copenhagen streets.

“We will be for the first time combining the two technologies,” Siemens Chief Executive Officer Andreas Nauen

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 20-Feb Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20

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said in an Aug. 30 Bloomberg report.

“It is not to produce hydrogen in big quantities, but to test the combination of both.”

22 21 22 23 21 22 18 17 12 11

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WorkBoat Composite Index Stocks down slightly in September

T

he WorkBoat Composite Index lost about 11 points in September, or less than 0.6%. The PHLX Oil Service Index fell 22%. For the month, losers topped winners 17-11.

Drilling contractor Transocean lost a third of its value in September.

During the company’s second-quarter STOCK CHART

earnings call in July, President and CEO Jeremy Thigpen discussed some of the challenges the company will face in the near to medium term.

“As we entered the year, we were optimistic that the ultradeepwater offshore recovery was beginning to take shape,” he told analysts in late July.

Source: FinancialContent Inc. www.financialcontent.com

INDEX NET COMPARISONS 8/31/20 9/30/20 CHANGE Operators 256.53 236.70 -19.84 Suppliers 3,395.86 3,520.03 124.17 Shipyards 2,997.87 2,763.62 -234.24 Workboat Composite 1,968.47 1,957.15 -11.32 PHLX Oil Service Index 35.71 27.84 -7.87 Dow Jones Industrials 28,430.05 27,781.70 -648.35 Standard & Poors 500 3,500.31 3,363.00 -137.31 For the complete up-to-date WorkBoat Stock Index, go to: workboat.com/resources/tools/workboat-composite-index/

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PERCENT CHANGE -7.73% 3.66% -7.81% -0.57% -22.04% -2.28% -3.92%

“However, as a result of the pandemic, the current demand for hydrocarbons has fallen significantly, thus impacting offshore contracting activity.”

As a result, Transocean reduced its shore-based support costs, “to more closely reflect what we anticipate being our contracted rig fleet over the coming months,” Thigpen said. “We embark on this global reduction in force purely as a result of the unprecedented and unforeseen circumstances. We hope that we will be in a position to welcome many of these teammates back to Transocean as the offshore market recovers and we have solid visibility to sustainable growth.”

The cut in shore-support costs will save the company approximately $80 million annually. As a result of the cuts, the company recognized severance charges of approximately $12 million in the second quarter.

— David Krapf

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

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Inland Insider

Barge shipments of oil drop almost 50%

I

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has supported for generations and what the energy sector in Louisiana that employs tens of thousands and their families By Ken Hocke, that live off those Senior Editor salaries means to them.

BP said recently that the world’s seemingly inexorable lust for oil is over. Even if Covid-19 were eradicated tomorrow, oil consumption may never return to levels seen before the crisis.

The oil giant’s most optimistic scenario sees demand no better than flat for the next 20 years as the world moves away from fossil fuels. BP plans to shrink oil and gas output by 40% over the next decade and spend billions annually on renewable energy Even the richest of the rich are leaking oil. With prices in the $40-bbl. range and Saudi Arabia needing oil to be in the $70-bbl. range to reach a breakeven point, the Saudi deficit could balloon to 11% of GDP. If you followed the industry in the 1970s and 1980s, you would never have thought such a thing possible.

Elsewhere, barged petroleum and biofuels from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico dropped during the second quarter of 2020 — 13.5% below last year’s second quarter, according to River Transport News.

But that’s not the worst of it. “Aggregate barged shipments of crude oil moving from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast fell to 2.922 million bbls. during the most recent (second) quarter, 48.9% below the 5.713 million bbls. shipped during the comparable year-ago period and 29% below preceding quarter shipment levels, RTN reported.

RTN said much of the drop in demand for oil is the fault of Covid-19, with monthly barged volumes during the quarter extremely volatile, ranging from a high of 1.4 million bbls. in May to a “breathtaking low” of just 324,000 bbls. in June. Not surprisingly, demand for gas and diesel fuel also plunged in the second quarter.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

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Insurance Watch

Getting back to work after Covid-19

W

hen the Covid-19 pandemic hit, most workboat companies were probably looking for ways to save money as the economy ground to a halt.

One way is to change your insurance policy to lower premiums but this can

also affect your coverage.

As you start to get back to business, take a look at any changes you may have made to your insurance policy and see if you need to undo them.

After the pandemic hit, some of the

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first requests I received from clients was to remove navigation from their commercial

By Chris vessels. Business Richmond had slowed down and there was no work for the boats, so this was an obvious way to lower insurance premiums. As the economy starts back up again and demand and work for vessels increases, businesses must make sure that lay up is removed from their insurance policies. While the boat is insured at the dock, during lay up the moment you drop the lines coverage ceases unless you have added navigation back to the policy.

Business owners also sought to cut their insurance bills by reducing annual projected payrolls for their workers’ compensation or USL&H. During the economic downturn, companies reduced their workforce and workers’ compensation, and USL&H renewals reflected this. As business picks up again and laid-off workers are brought back, companies’ annual projected payrolls will increase. Companies can wait until the audit at the end of the policy term and get hit with a large additional premium or can contact their agents and report payroll increases. This will spread out the premium increase over the remaining term of the policy.

Finally, if you have been shut down for a period of time and equipment has been idle, be sure to do your due diligence and make sure everything works as it should. Routine maintenance may have been missed or deferred. Inspection dates could have been missed for safety equipment or log books could be out of date for safety review. Take the time to clean up these areas before you’re hit with a fine.

Restarting a business means getting both customers and employees back in the door, but don’t forget to contact your insurance agent as well.

Chris Richmond is a licensed mariner and marine insurance agent with Allen Insurance and Financial. He can be reached at 800-439-4311.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

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Legal Talk

PRIME CTR.

MARKET SHOWCASE

OFFSHORE ENERGY

DEFENSE

FERRIES

U.S. NAVY T-AGOS(X) INDUSTRY STUDIES PROVEN DESIGNS

HIGH SPEED INTERCEPTOR PATROL BOAT OFFSHORE PATROL VESSEL FAST LANDING CRAFT (CAIMEN) WORLD-CLASS VESSEL DESIGN HIGH-VALUE SHIPYARD SUPPORT TRUSTED CONSULTANT SKILLED GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR

Salvaging a corpse and filing a salvage claim for the man’s money

I

t’s close to Halloween and I love salvage, which makes the case of the salvaged corpse a good topic.

It was a couple of years after World

By John K. War II in Bay Shore on New York’s Long Fulweiler Island. A man named Charles was on the Great South Bay aboard his flat-bottom skiff. He had a couple of thousand dollars in his pocket, but he was all out of luck.

At some point that day, he fell over and drowned. Three months later, a fellow happened upon his body and “attached a rope to it and towed it to Bay Shore.” The currency was turned over to the coroner. The fellow who’d towed the body, filed a salvage claim.

The issue in this peculiar case was whether money found on a body floating in navigable waters is subject to a salvage claim.

The court started with a Supreme Court decision that had allowed a salvage claim for the furniture or cargo of a ship including “wreck, flotsam, jetsam, ligan or derelict.”

And with a serious eye, the court reasoned that a dead body “probably comes within the category of derelict.”

You can sometimes read a court’s decision and get a sense of its heading. Such is the case here where the court speaks favorably of a prior case involving the recovery of a steamship passenger’s body. In this case, the court wrote that even though there was no danger or expense it didn’t deprive the salvors of an award because “offsetting this circumstance was the unusual temptation to appropriate the entire property.”

That is, a salvage award was given to encourage the return of the body as opposed to its looting and secretive abandonment. With all that in mind, the court granted the salvage claim.

So, wow. I know you think I’ve somehow gotten high off of a strange mix of toner ink and caffeine, but this is a real case.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in the Eastern District of New York and when you calculate the value of the money at issue in today’s dollars it’s about $25,000.

Underway and making way.

John K. Fulweiler of Fulweiler LLC is a licensed mariner and maritime attorney. He can be reached at john@saltwaterlaw.com or Telephone: 1-800-367-1658

WWW.BMT.ORG 16

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

NOVEMBER 2020

NEWS LOG

NEWS BITTS

Drilling ban will affect offshore wind, NOIA says

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plies to lease sales for non-fossil fuel energy sources such as wind power, hydrokinetic, or ocean thermal energy conversion. The amendment will enforce Jones Act requirements for all offshore renewable energy production.

— Kirk Moore

Barge operator Bouchard files for Chapter 11

A

ustal USA, Mobile, Ala., recently completed the purchase of waterfront land, buildings, and an existing drydock along the Mobile River previously owned by World Marine of Alabama, a subsidiary of Modern American Recycling and Repair Services of Alabama (MARRS). The purchase boosts Austal’s new construction and service business lines. The property formerly housed Signal Ship Repair (Signal International) and before that Bender Shipbuilding & Repair.

NTSB RELEASES MORE INFORMATION IN 2019 DIVE BOAT FIRE

C Bouchard Transportation

resident Trump’s announcement to extend an offshore drilling moratorium off North Carolina will block future development of additional wind energy areas, an offshore industry group said.

Trump’s surprise executive orders extending a moratorium on waters off Florida up the Atlantic coast was denounced by the offshore oil industry, long promised widespread opening of new lease areas by the president.

The extension of the order to North Carolina brought criticism from the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) — always an ally of the oil majors and now aligned with offshore wind energy developers to build a new industry off the East Coast.

“An offshore moratorium that stretches from the Eastern Gulf of Mexico to the top of North Carolina’s offshore areas needlessly jeopardizes our nation’s long-term economic and national security,” said Erik Milito, NOIA’s president in a statement after Trump’s announcement.

Existing offshore wind leases are not affected by the moratorium, which takes effect July 1, 2022, and extends for 10 years. But wind industry advocates and their allies in Northeast states like New York say it’s critical that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management identify additional wind energy areas and plan for future lease offerings, to assure developers and supply chain companies of continued growth.

In a related development, U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., applauded passage of his amendment to the “Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act” (H.R. 4447) by the House.

Garamendi’s amendment clarifies that the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, a 1953 law governing offshore mineral and energy development, ap-

AUSTAL USA BUYS OLD BENDER SHIPYARD PROPERTY

B

ouchard Transportation, the nation’s largest independently owned oceangoing petroleum barge company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in late September.

Melville, N.Y.-based Bouchard said that it will fund the Chapter 11 process with debtor-in-possession financing, which will provide the company with the liquidity needed to maintain normal operations while it undertakes certain key operational restructuring initiatives. This includes ensuring the fleet is in full compliance with all operating regulations. As part of its operational restructuring, the company will fill several key open executive management positions and intends to pay employees, suppliers, and other trade vendors in full.

Mark Berger of Portage Point Partners LLC has been appointed by

rewmembers told investigators that they had not participated in a fire drill aboard the dive boat Conception and one said he saw sparks when he recharged his cell phone just before the fatal fire that killed 33 passengers and one crew, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) documents released in September show. The 104 entries in the docket range from reports and witness interviews to the Certificate of Inspection (COI) for the 75'x25' wooden-hulled boat built in 1981 that burned to the waterline and sank in about 60' of water off Santa Cruz Island, Calif., Sept. 2, 2019.

Go to workboat.com/news for the latest commercial marine industry news.

Bouchard to serve as chief restructuring officer during the reorganization.

Throughout the process, Bouchard said it aims to continue to serve its customers and trade partners and ensure the safety of its employees and fleet operations. The company will file customary first day motions that, once approved by the bankruptcy court, will allow the company to smoothly transition its business into Chapter 11.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Research Vessels

Fact Finding A look at some of the new research vessels recently delivered or underway.

By Michael Crowley, Correspondent

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M

ost people think of research boats as very large vessels packed with many scientists spending a lot of time out of sight of land, deciphering what lies beneath the ocean’s surface.

But oceanographic research isn’t just for 300foot boats. There are plenty of opportunities for much smaller boats, even ones that conduct their research without anyone aboard. There’s also room for multipurpose boats where scientific research is just one of the boat’s missions. But let’s start with the big boys in this review of some of the new research boats.

Gulf Island Shipyards, Houma, La., got a triple winner when it landed the contract to build three 199'6"×41'×19' Regional-class oceanographic research vessels (RCRVs). The three sisterships are funded by the National Science Foundation and will be powered by Schottel Z-drives and Caterpillar C32 diesels.

The first of the three is the Taani for Oregon State University, which is also in charge of the design and construction of all three vessels for the NSF. The Taani is scheduled for a May 2022

completion. The second RCRV, the Resolution, is being built for the University of Rhode Island and should be launched in November 2022.

The most recent boat to be announced is the Gilbert R. Mason for the Gulf-Caribbean Oceanographic Consortium, a collection of 14 universities led by the University of Southern Mississippi and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium.

Gulf Island is due to start cutting steel for the Gilbert R. Mason at the end of 2020 and it should be launched in May 2023, said Gulf Island Program Manager Gary Bonvillian.

All three boats will conduct research operations ranging from near-shore waters to the outer continental rise and the open ocean in the Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. They will be able to operate in light ice.

The Gilbert R. Mason will have a crew of 13 and will be able to carry 16 scientists on research voyages up to 21 days with a cruising range of 5,400 miles. The RCRV will have a cruising speed of 11.5 knots and a maximum speed of 13 knots.

The three vessels should have a service life of 30 to 40 years. www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Oregon State University

The Taani, the first of three oceanographic research vessels being built at Gulf Island Shipyards.

All American Marine

NOAA RESEARCH VESSEL All American Marine, Bellingham, Wash., will soon have new research boats operating on both the East and West coasts. There is an as yet unnamed 50'×18'8" aluminum research catamaran for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration whose construction began on Sept. 11 and should be completed by mid-2021. It will work the 3,188-sq.-mile Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Washington, which includes much of the continental shelf and major submarine canyons.

The boat is an addition to NOAA’s current fleet of research boats and will concentrate on sea floor mapping, habitat characterization, data collection, and monitoring ocean species.

Then there’s the Shearwater, a 77'×26'6" aluminum catamaran research, survey vessel and teaching platform delivered to Duke University in 2019. The Shearwater was built to conduct research projects along the Atlantic coast for Duke University’s Marine Lab. It is a replacement vessel.

“Some schools like Duke are replacing vessels,” said Ron Wille,

All American’s business development manager. “Replacing older monohulls with more efficient catamarans.

Teknicraft Design, Auckland, New Zealand, designed both research boats.

(All American is the exclusive builder of Teknicraft-designed vessels in North America.) Part of the design is Teknicraft’s patented hydrofoil assist.

That’s a wing between the catamaran’s twin hulls that’s above the keel. “When the boat is up at speed it provides a lifting force,” said Wille. It provides lift for “about a third of the weight of the boat. It can increase efficiency by about 30 percent.”

The bows on the Duke catamaran have a sickle shape that “does really nice when cutting through wave chop,” said Wille. “It provides more comfort to operators and crew when compared to a slower monohull vessel.”

NOAA’s new research boat will have 250 sq. ft. of working space on the aft deck with deck sockets every 2' to allow equipment to be moved quickly and easily depending on the situation.

That could include activities such as sea floor mapping, habitat characterization, data collection and the monitoring

The Shearwater, a 77'x26'6" aluminum catamaran research/survey vessel and teaching platform, was delivered to Duke University in 2019.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

of ocean species and marine wildlife.

The top deck features an InterOcean Systems conduction wire winch, a hauling winch and a MorganCrane 300.4 marine crane. On the main deck is an adjustable A-frame for launching scientific equipment.

AUTONOMOUS RESEARCH On a much smaller scale, SeaRobotics designed the 24'2"×8'3"×34" SR-Endurance 7.0 with an electric propulsion system from Torqeedo.

The aluminum workboat-class multimission Endurance 7.0 is built to conduct long range, hydrography and subsea mapping surveys up to 10 miles offshore. One 24 footer has been built.

It went to the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., in 2019. It’s designed to be an autonomous surface vessel, meaning it can operate without anyone onboard. However, it is not yet completely autonomous. “Now it’s considered semi-autonomous,” said Don Darling, SeaRobotics president.

If the Endurance operates offshore, a person should be aboard or in the area to monitor its activities “and run interference for it if necessary” to avoid other vessels. SeaRobotics is currently developing an autonomous package that will allow “the boat to determine its activities and response to other boats that it comes across as opposed to you responding,” said Darling.

SeaRobotics hopes to demonstrate that autonomous capability late this year or early next year.

With the completion of the autonomous package, all onboard systems will be monitored by an onshore operator, who could put the Endurance into automatic waypoint mode. Then the throttle and steering would be fully computer controlled.

The Endurance was initially built as an open boat, which would be fine in sea-state 1, 2, or 3, but anything beyond that it would need to be enclosed to shed water.

The Endurance’s power package consists of Torqeedo’s Deep Blue 50i electric motor, a 360VDC 30.5-kW lithium propulsion battery, water21

cooled DC-DC converter, a 24 VDC lithium battery for DC-DC backup, and a 25-kW diesel generator.

The system is designed to provide power for up to six days at sea and up to 10 hours between automatic battery recharges, which are computer controlled. Currently onboard assistance is required to enter and leave harbors and in congested waterways. “The goal,” said Darling, “is to provide the ability to go from dock to dock (on its own).

The new autonomous package will likely have that capability.”

ALUMINUM RESEARCH CAT Armstrong Marine delivered the Benthic Cat, a 42'×16' aluminum catamaran, to Orca Maritime Inc., Imperial Beach, Calif., in November 2019.

The cat is based on the Bob and Betty Beyster, a general-purpose oceanographic research vessel that Armstrong delivered to the Scripps Institution of

The R/V Benthic Cat, a 42'x16' aluminum catamaran built by Armstrong Marine.

Oceanography at the University of California San Diego in early 2019. “It is almost a sister ship to the Scripps boat,” said Charlie Crane, Armstrong Marine’s sales and marketing director.

The Benthic Cat is currently operating along the Southern California coast on multiday operations for the Department of Defense, the Navy and environ-

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mental agencies.

For on-deck research work there’s an A-frame with a Pullmaster hydraulic winch, a Morgan 200.3 marine crane and a 5" horizontal capstan, along with 28 tie-down points for securing equipment.

Twin 510-hp Volvo D11 diesels matched up with Volvo IPS 650 pods power both the Benthic Cat and the Bob and Betty Beyster. “It’s one of the things Scripps likes so much,” said Crane. The boat “can hold a maneuver without anchoring. Orca Maritime wanted the same thing to get a lot more control.”

With the Volvo propulsion package, the Benthic Cat cruised at 32 mph on sea trials and had a 37-mph top speed.

“It’s got a lot of speed so when they want to get home quick they can,” said Crane. “These are the very first commercial catamarans to have Volvos with IPS on them in the world.”

All the boats mentioned so far are wholly designated for research. But what if there’s no funding for a onedimensional boat whose sole mission is ocean research and surveying?

Metalcraft Marine’s answer was launched in the late fall of 2019. It’s the 59'6"×16' Amwaal for the Prince Rupert Port Authority in British Columbia.

The Amwaal was originally intended to be an escort boat for ships coming into and out of Prince Rupert, the third largest port in Canada. Gradually the Amwaal was designed with additional duties, which included transferring crews from nearby island terminals,

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Armstrong Marine

Research Vessels

MetalCraft Marine

The 59'6"x16' Amwaal is a multipurpose vessel that can handle research projects. It was delivered to the Prince Rupert Port Authority late last year.

a backup pilot boat, a VIP tour boat, and with the integration of a fire pump and monitors, the Amwaal was given firefighting capability, said Metalcraft Marine’s Bob Clark. Then, with the addition of a worktable, a mini laboratory and a davit on the stern for deploying nets, the Amwaal was outfitted for research projects. When more room is

needed for a research project, some of the cabin’s crew seats are removed.

A pair of 1,001-hp Caterpillar C18s matched up with HamiltonJet HJ403 waterjets powers the Amwaal.

Clark admits that when he saw the Amwaal’s developing multipurpose roles he was dubious. “I thought if you try to do too many things you don’t do

C&C

MARINE AND REPAIR

any of them well.” But it turns out “it was a pretty smart thing in the end. The boat is always busy.”

Metal Shark also recently delivered an interesting vessel with a research connection. The Franklin, La., boatyard built a research tender for New Yorkbased nonprofit ocean exploration initiative and media organization OceanX. The custom 38' Defiant-class welded aluminum monohull pilothouse vessel will be carried aboard the recently launched one-of-a-kind scientific research, media production, and exploration vessel, OceanXplorer. The vessel is designed to be both a floating, integrated marine research platform and a Hollywood-caliber media production studio.

The tender’s customized aft deck features a removable aft hydraulic A-frame for lifting, removable dive benches and an awning for crew protection.

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CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT WORKBOAT YARDS

On TheWays

ON THE WAYS 56' tug was designed with a reinforced hull for breaking ice efficiently.

Blount Boats

Blount Boats completes new tug for New York Power Authority

O

n Aug. 28, the tug Breaker II completed its delivery voyage to the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, operated by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the nation’s largest state power organization.

The 56'×18'5"×6'9", twin-screw tug with a 4'6" draft, was designed by Bristol Harbor Group, Bristol, R.I., and built by Blount Boats, Warren, R.I. Bob Pelletier, Blount’s project manager for Breaker II, said NYPA picked the right shipyard to build its boat. “The New York Power Authority did their homework and selected Blount Boats based on technical capability and price,” he said.

The tug, which carries a crew of four to eight, was designed with a reinforced hull for breaking ice efficiently. It will operate in seasonal ice near the entrance to and within the upper Niagara River.

The dual-purpose vessel will prevent ice flow from clogging the intakes to the hydroelectric power plant and 24

facilitate the installation and removal of ice booms.

Asked what challenges the building of the tug presented to Blount, Pelletier, said, “It was not a challenge for Blount Boats, because we deal with Subchapter T, K and M. This is just another set of regulatory regulations.”

Main propulsion comes from two Caterpillar Tier 3 series C-9 engines, each producing 375 hp at 1,800 rpm. The Cats connect to twin 38"×34" stainless steel Michigan Wheel props, giving the Breaker II a cruising speed of 7.5 knots and a top speed of 10.5 knots. Ship’s service power is the responsibility of twin Cat Tier 3 C2.2 marine gensets, each sparking 27 kW of electrical power at 1,800 rpm.

Steel hull plating thickness ranges from 3/4", 5/8" and 1/2" with 1" and 2" thick skeg plates. Ice belt plating is ABS Grade “D” including the 1" and 2" skeg parts. All other plating is ABS Grade “A” steel.

Other features of the new tug include two 4.5"-dia. × 13'-long Aquamet shafts from National Specialty, Thordon shaft and rudder bearings, Twin Disc EC300 three station engine controls, R.W. Fernstrum WEKA boxcoolers, AutoNav Series 2000 electrohydraulic steering system, Kidde Novec fire suppression system (supplied by Hiller Systems Inc.), and three Carlisle & Finch 12" 350-watt searchlights. Capacities include two 397-gal. fuel tanks and 20 gals. fresh water.

The vessel’s hull, machinery, electrical systems and safety equipment complies with the new Subchapter M regulations.

This is the first Subchapter M-certified vessel built at Blount.

— Ken Hocke

Chesapeake Shipbuilding delivers overnight passenger vessel to ACL

A

merican Cruise Lines (ACL) took delivery in August of the American Jazz, third in the company’s distinctive modern series of five steel overnight riverboats. The 190-passenger, 328'×60'4" steel-hulled vessel will sail the Mississippi River.

The American Jazz has six decks and features an expansive use of glass including a multistory atrium at the center and on every cabin’s private balcony railings, a fitness center and wellnessyoga studio. There’s independent HVAC systems in each stateroom and all interior spaces. Spacious standard staterooms range from 300 to 350 sq. ft.

What the boat doesn’t have is a Victorian gingerbread paddlewheel.

The vessels are similar in looks as well as stability and hull strength to ACL’s coastal cruisers, said Steven McGee, president of Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp., Chesapeake, Md., which designed and delivered the vessels. McGee is also a vice president of ACL.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

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On TheWays

Metal Shark builds first vessel in yacht portfolio

The new riverboat has ACL’s patented opening bow and retractable gangway.

The vessels are purpose built for limited coastwise, lakes, bays and sounds routes. The American Song, the first of the modern boats, debuted in 2018. It was followed by the American Harmony in 2019.

The new riverboats also have ACL’s patented opening bow and retractable gangways. “We don’t need an improved dock in order to make port calls,” McGee said. “We can push up against the bank and extend the ramp.”

The vessel is powered by two Caterpillar 3512E Tier 4 main engines, for a total of 3,620 hp at 1,600 rpm, that turn two Veth VZ-1250-CR contra-rotating 4-bladed (front) and 5-bladed (aft) azimuth thrusters through ZF gears with 5.60:1 ratios. Speed is 13.7 knots.

“We have been very impressed with Veth overall,” McGee said. “They are advantageous for us on the river.” The contra-rotating propellers maximize thrust and there’s almost two feet of clearance from the skeg bottom to the prop tip. That also should help keep unwanted objects from under the vessel.

The engine room’s ventilation system also was redesigned so the vessel runs a lot cooler.

Tankage includes 72,800 gals. of fuel and 33,100 gals. water.

The American Melody, the next in the series, will have an air draft of 44' rather than 52' in order to clear Upper Mississippi River bridges. She also will have larger staterooms and suites on the fourth deck.

26

The American Jazz, which sports a 7'10" draft, was expected to start sailing later this year, but cruise lines have been mostly shut down because of Covid-19-related no-sail orders.

Ship’s service power comes from three Cat gensets, sparking 565 kW of electrical power each, a 100-kW John Deere 4045HF285 generator-drive engine, and a 16-kW Kohler genset.

Guilford, Conn.-based ACL is optimistic about next year. “The outlook for 2021 is tremendous, and we look forward to American Jazz’s first full season on the Mississippi,” as well as the introduction of American Melody, said Charles B. Robertson, ACL president and CEO. Since 2017, ACL has introduced five ships bringing its total fleet to 12 this year. — Dale K. DuPont

Metal Shark

American Cruise Lines

M

etal Shark, Franklin, La., has introduced a 48-meter (158'×39') aluminum catamaran expedition yacht.

The M48 Magnet is the first build in the company’s new Metal Shark Yachts portfolio of high-speed, long range catamaran expedition yachts.

The new lineup also includes the M30, 30 meters (100'), and M70, 70 meters (231').

Magnet is the first private yacht built by Metal Shark, which builds aluminum and steel vessels for military and commercial operators.

“It’s a cool boat because it’s not a fussy or frilly yacht. It’s tough and meant for extended travel,” said Josh Stickles, Metal Shark’s vice president of marketing. “It carries an insane amount of fuel so the range is ridiculous. You can cruise 11,000-plus nautical miles at 10 knots, or you can cross the Atlantic at 17 knots. If you need to go fast, say if you need to get ahead of an approaching storm front, you can run her all the way up to 27 knots.”

An expansive upper-level sun deck, appointed with wraparound seating and lounges, al fresco dining areas, and a bar with refrigerators and an ice maker, also features a forward flybridge which offers expanded visibility from its elevated position. A large fixed shade

The M48 (158') is the first-private yacht built by Metal Shark.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

is designed to provide comfort while also accommodating an integrated 12-panel, 4.2-kW solar power generation array.

Magnet has been configured with a master cabin, a VIP cabin, and three guest cabins. The yacht has 4,230 sq. ft. of interior living space.

The three-decked welded-aluminum boat features design work completed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team, utilizing an Incat Crowther catamaran hull form optimized for maximum speed and range.

Main propulsion comes from two MTU IMO Tier III diesel engines, producing 2,600 hp at 2,450 rpm each. The mains turn 5-bladed 58" fixed propellers through ZF 5350 gear boxes with 4.033:1 reduction ratios. The propulsion package gives the Magnet an 11,000-nautical-mile range at a 10-knot cruise speed. In sea trials the new yacht reached a top speed of 27 knots.

“This is not by any stretch a typical yacht,” the vessel’s owner, George Wallner, said in a statement announcing the delivery. “I wanted a serious, rugged, purpose-built vessel capable of reaching the remote, unspoiled destinations that you can’t get to with an airplane. With Magnet, I can travel quickly to faraway places, and everyone onboard can enjoy the adventure. I also wanted to be able to work on board, continue with my product development and testing activities at sea. The catamaran format offers ample room and a uniquely stable platform for that.”

The yacht’s styling incorporates chiseled lines inspired by Metal Shark’s military patrol vessels, which are designed to achieve modern naval visual deterrent requirements.

Thanks to its catamaran footprint, M48 offers significantly more deck space than a monohull yacht of comparable length, Stickles said. A 5,000 lb.-capacity submersible stern platform and a 3,500-lb. aft deck crane easily launch, retrieve, and stow tenders, toys, and cargo.

Machinery spaces, crew quarters, refrigerated storage, a wine cellar, and a complete workshop are all accommodated below decks within the twin catamaran hulls, opening up all three decks for owners and guests.

Metal Shark also recently delivered a research tender to New York-based nonprofit ocean exploration initiative and media organization OceanX. The custom 38' Defiant-class welded aluminum monohull pilothouse vessel will be carried aboard the recently launched one-of-a-kind scientific research, media production, and exploration vessel, OceanXplorer. The vessel is designed to be both a floating, integrated marine research platform and a Hollywood-caliber media production studio.

Powered by twin Cummins QSB 6.7 550-hp diesel inboards mated to HamiltonJet HJ 292 waterjets with Blue Arrow controls, the 38 Defiant is designed to demonstrate pinpoint maneuverability at all speeds. HamiltonJet’s JETanchor positioning system assists with stationkeeping and also offers a “virtual anchor” mode, which allows the system to set a single GPS point mooring for hands-free standby operations.

— K. Hocke

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

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The Shearer Group

Edison Chouest Offshore

dison Chouest Offshore (ECO) will build and operate the first U.S.-flag, Jones Act-compliant service operations vessel for the offshore wind industry, partnering with wind developers Ørsted and Eversource, the companies announced on Oct. 1. The SOV’s mission will be to serve as the sea base for operations and maintenance operations after construction, carrying technicians, tools and parts between First U.S.-flag, Jones Act-compliant turbine towers. The service operations vessel for the current design calls offshore wind industry. for a 260' vessel that will carry up to 60 passengers, with staterooms with private bathrooms. A below deck warehouse will have palletized storage for tools, supplies, parts and spares, and step-less access to an elevator. A crew transfer vessel will be carried on board with its own launch and recovery system, and a wave height-compensating landing platform. Under a long-term charter agreement, ECO will engineer, build and operate the vessel. The SOV will be based in New York state and perform O&M on the Revolution Wind, South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind projects planned off southern New England and Long Island, N.Y. Meanwhile, ECO has contracted with Damen Shipyards Group to design a new offshore terminal tug. Damen’s 50-meter (164') ASD Tug 5016 will provide escort, hold-back, hose-handling and maintenance duties offshore Guyana. The tug will deliver 120 tons of static bollard pull delivered by twin C-280 engines. It will also have a hybrid system that will be engaged when loitering.

MetalCraft Marine, Watertown, N.Y., recently delivered two of its 34' high-performance patrol RIBs to the Mississippi Department of Natural Resources Police.

The two boats will be used in the coastal bay areas and offshore checking on commercial and sport fishing compliance. The boats can reach 64 mph with their triple Suzuki 300-hp outboards. The boat also features a robust T-top and supporting structure, which is designed to ISO 12215 Category B standards (12'-17' waves). The T-top, which can support the weight of a crewman, is specifically designed to deflect radar, that along with the low hull profile will provide a low radar signature. Below the T-top is an oversize gun locker which can hold rifles and side arms.

Manson Con34' high-performance patrol RIB. struction Co.

has awarded a contract to Keppel AmFELS to build the 420'×81' hopper dredge FredThe 420'x81' hopper dredge Frederick Paup. erick Paup at its facility in Brownsville, Texas. The 15,000-cu.-yd. hopper dredge — designed in collaboration with Hockema Whalen Myers Associates, Seattle — will have a draft of 28'6". It is scheduled to be operational in spring 2023. Once complete, the self-propelled hopper dredge Frederick Paup will be the largest in the U.S. The Coast Guard has awarded a contract to Bostonbased autonomous technology developer Sea Machines and Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark to supply an autonomous test vessel to the agency’s Research and Development Center (RDC). The weldedaluminum 29 Defiant craft is the latest product of Metal Shark’s Sharktech Autonomous Vessels division to be equipped with Sea Machines SM300 autonomousAutonomous vessel for the Coast Guard. command and remote-helm technology. The new vessel offers a full range of advanced capabilities including transit autonomy, collaborative autonomy, active ride control and collision avoidance, and remote-control vessel monitoring.

The Shearer Group Inc. (TSGI), Houston, announced the delivery of a 200'×60' walking spud dredge barge built by LAD Services, Stephensville, La. LAD contracted TSGI to develop the design of the barge which has the capacity to lift 114,000 lbs. of dredging spoil. The new dredge barge features two 85' tall removable spuds The new dredge barge features and one winch. two 85' tall removable spuds.

The pedestal crane is a Liebherr HS 8300 HD crane with a 125' long boom, one of only five in the Americas.

Austal USA recently christened the future Savannah (LCS 28) at its advanced ship manufacturing facility in Mobile, Ala. The Savannah is the 14th of 19 littoral combat ships (LCS) Austal has under contract with the Navy. The 421'6"×103.7' Independence-variant LCS is the most recent step in the small surface combatant evolution.

Metal Shark

E

Manson Construction Co.

BOATBUILDING BITTS

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding

53' pilot boat will work mostly on Lake Ontario.

Gladding-Hearn delivers new pilot boat to St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots

T

he St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots have to deal with some nasty weather, as they take ships in and out of St. Lawrence Seaway ports, between St. Regis, N.Y., and Lake Ontario’s Port Weller. That’s especially true in the late winter and early spring when river and lake ice start breaking up and ships begin moving up the Seaway.

The need for a boat that can handle the weather and ice conditions is the reason Peter Duclos, president of GladdingHearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Mass., figures the St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots Association took delivery of its first Gladding-Hearn-built pilot boat this past August.

That would be the Seaway Pilot V, an aluminum 53.6'×17.8'×4.8' Ray Hunt-designed Chesapeake-class pilot boat that Duclos describes as “a dry boat that doesn’t throw a lot of spray.” It will be the primary boarding boat operating on Lake Ontario. For ice protection, it was built with extra heavy bottom plating.

Ice was also a reason to connect the two 641-hp Volvo Penta D16 main engines and the Northern Lights 12kW Tier-3 generator to Fernstrum keel coolers. “So they don’t have to worry about sucking up ice,” Duclos said.

For icy, cold weather piloting, the decks and handrails are heated as are the wheelhouse windows. A slightly different feature is the heated wheelhouse roof that serves as a boarding platform. It’s “not the first time we’ve done it, but it is a little unusual,” said Duclos. “Basically, every place they would want to work is heated.”

That, of course, incudes the wheelhouse with five Llebroc seats for the captain, deckhand and three pilots. Down below it’s very sparse, consisting of a settee, porta potty, workbench and storage space. On the stern, in case a pilot goes in the water, is a recovery davit to lift a person out of the water and a MateSaver. The MateSaver is a pole with a loop on the end that goes around someone in the water and then is used to pull him to the recovery point — a recessed platform on the stern with steps going down to it.

The Seaway Pilot V, with its two Volvo Pentas matched up with ZF 500-1-A gearboxes spinning 5-bladed nibral props, has a top speed of 23 knots, though Duclos said it would probably be run at a more economical 20 knots. At that speed and 800 gals. of diesel onboard, the Seaway Pilot V should have a 300-mile range. — Michael Crowley www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Yo u r vi s i o n . O u r e x p e r t i s e .

_______________________________________________________

Vessel Design & Construction sales@armstrongmarine.com | (360) 457-5752 www.armstrongmarine.com 29

Troubled Waters

In the Covid-19 crosshairs, the distressed Gulf of Mexico looks to mid-2021.

By Jim Redden, Correspondent

30

B

etween a persistent pandemic’s assault on fossil fuel demand and an epic storm season, the Gulf of Mexico seems to have been cast into some kind of ecclesiastical time warp this year.

Yet, even as 2020 mercifully wraps up, most agree it will be at least mid-2021 before a clearer picture emerges on how the offshore sector will shake out after a chaotic year that saw budgets slashed, projects deferred, more bankruptcies, and offshore service vessels (OSV) sidelined at its highest clip in two years. Clouding the crystal ball is the relentless tentacles of the untamed Covid-19 epidemic and the accompanying erosion of demand and commodity prices.

“In March, when the Covid pandemic was really getting started, we saw a very swift coldstacking of vessels, and after that more vessels got cut from long-term jobs,” said IHS Markit Senior Marine Analyst Richard Sanchez.

With the coronavirus hanging in the balance, the big question mark is the direction oil prices will take and how they will fit within offshore operators’ asset portfolios, said veteran energy analyst G. Allen Brooks. “Obviously, there’s going to be a certain amount of activity that’s programmed and the spending locked in, so you have to assume it will go forward. The big thing is for people to feel confident where oil prices are going,” he said.

Confidence certainly hasn’t been on display this year with 14 drilling rigs working in the Gulf of Mexico as of Oct. 2, according to Baker Hughes.

Over the first nine months of 2020, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) received and approved only 27 drilling permit requests for new wells in waters deeper than 3,000', 15 of which were issued to Shell Offshore for wells in water depths up to 9,636'. BSEE issued 46 permits for similar water depths over the same Jan. 1 to Sept. 8 time frame last year. www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Shell Oil Co.

Shell’s Perdido platform in the ultradeepwater Gulf of Mexico was among those continually evacuated during this year’s active hurricane season. The world’s deepest spar production hub sits in more than 8,000’ of water.

Jackson Offshore Operators

Jackson Offshore’s Squall, a 252’x60’ PSV with a capacity of 10,752 bbls. of liquid mud, on station in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

recurring evacuations while adhering to strict Covid-induced protocol.

During an especially stormy September, an average of nearly 222,499 bpd of oil and just under 525,500 Mcfd of gas were temporarily shut-in from up to 147 platforms, according to BSEE monitoring data.

If this wasn’t enough to elevate the angst level among offshore companies, 2020 also saw an acceleration of investors’ aversion to fossil fuel companies, reinforced when ExxonMobil was booted off the Dow Jones Industrial Average in late August, ending a 92year run. With that, Chevron is the only traditional oil and gas operator

Tidewater Inc.

At least one player in an otherwise largely tightlipped OSV community believes the rig count has bottomed out and can only go up from here. “I think that is the bottom, but I also think it will be mid-next year before we get any clarity as to what’s going to happen,” said Matthew Rigdon, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Jackson Offshore Operators LLC, Houston. “I’m optimistic we’ll see activity starting to accelerate toward the latter half of next year. I think it’s not unreasonable to think that we could get back to 20 or so rigs in the Gulf by the end of next year. That may be a little aggressive and too optimistic, but it’s not unreasonable.”

Brooks said the one certain thing is that nearly all rigs put to work will be drilling identified prospects, rather than what was once called “rank wildcats,” as operators try to boost production from established fields. “We’re not going back to doing a lot of exploration drilling. Development drilling will drive the Gulf of Mexico, because there’s a lot of capital that’s already been put in place.”

Compounding a downturn for which there is no playbook, production platforms and OSVs also spent a good chunk of the summer and early fall waiting on weather amid an atypically active hurricane season that forced

Tidewater’s 3,490-dwt Cindy Brown Tide is among the growing number of PSVs stacked in the Gulf of Mexico www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

remaining on the Dow, and many of its contemporaries are starting to refocus much of their business on offshore wind and other emerging renewable energy sources.

THE COST OF COVID In the latest numbers available, the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) documented 405 confirmed Covid-19 cases within the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas infrastructure as of Oct. 5, including high-profile outbreaks on BP and Shell platforms in March and May, respectively. “In the last 14 days, the active Covid-19 count is 14,” NOIA spokesman Justin Williams said in a Sept. 2 email. “We have had an increase but considering the offshore worker pool is about 25,000 employees, with about 15,000 of them offshore at any given time, it is clear that the mitigation measures are being adhered to and are making a positive impact.”

By jump starting mitigation efforts in late January, Murphy Oil Corp., which operates 13 deepwater Gulf of Mexico fields, said it had identified only one positive Covid-19 case as of August. The aggressive crisis management initiative included the procurement of around 4,000 test kits and rigorous facility sanitization. “We were ahead of the game,” President and CEO Roger Jenkins said in the company’s second-quarter earnings call on Aug. 6.

“We didn’t do just fever tests. We also do these prick tests where you can get 31

32

Source: IHS Markit

The OSV utilization rate in the Gulf of Mexico plunged in the first half of 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic tightened its grip.

Source: IHS Markit

your blood and test it very quickly. We screened a lot of people.”

Aggravating the obvious hit to revenue streams, those mitigation measures have contributed to millions of dollars in incremental costs that OSV companies and others have incurred to deal with the Covid pandemic. Vessel companies with international footprints have also had to work around inter-country travel and quarantine restrictions, which have forced crewmembers to overstay hitches for extended periods.

“Companies have experienced delays in crew changes in different parts of the world, depending on the various quarantine requirements,” Sanchez said. “In some cases, it’s meant they’ve had to pay for double crews, because the other crew is quarantined.”

Tidewater Inc. alone earmarked $20 million for “frictional costs” associated with the pandemic. “We see this as the annual impact of the crisis,” President and CEO Quintin Kneen said in the company’s July 31 second-quarter earnings call. “This is the increased cost of travel and salaries, cost of quarantine mariners, the cost of fuel to transit vessels coming off hire to their layup locations, and the incremental cost of those vessels being in a layup.”

By mid-September, Tidewater at least managed to begin returning an undisclosed number of mariners stranded within its four global operating regions to their home countries. “It’s still a challenge, like the whole shipping industry, but the good news is we’re slowly starting to see countries open up their borders again,” Jason Stanley, vice president of marketing and investor relations, said on Sept. 16. “In about every region, I think we’ve been able to affect at least one crew change. It’s very slow, but at least it’s progress.”

Meanwhile, the pandemic likely proved to be the final blow for three debt-laden offshore drilling contractors, which filed for Chapter 11 protection, with at least two others speculated to join them in bankruptcy court. Fortyyear-old OSV operator Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc., Covington, La., however, emerged from bankruptcy on

The term demand for OSVs in the Gulf of Mexico also plunged in the first half of 2020 due to the market’s further erosion from Covid-19.

Sept. 4 after filing in May. “It’s been a very tough time for offshore drilling and oilfield services in general,” Valaris plc Senior Vice President of Business Development Alan Quintero said in a Sept. 15 virtual presentation to the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), less than one month after the world’s largest offshore rig contractor filed for bankruptcy.

Valaris’ filing followed Noble Corp.

and Diamond Offshore, which sought bankruptcy protection in late July and April, respectively, while Transocean Ltd. was granted court permission on Sept. 3 to proceed with a debt restructuring plan, thereby avoiding bankruptcy for now. The fates of troubled Seadrill and Pacific Drilling remained up in the air in late September. Pacific skipped over $50 million in interest payments due Oct. 1.

If nothing else, Brooks said the

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

HISTORIC PRESSURES Day rate negotiations are likely secondary concerns for many vessel owners, which have too many boats chasing too few jobs. “Boats are under historically severe pressures, maybe more than ever,” said Sanchez. “When (drilling) rigs roll off contract, we’re seeing anywhere from three to six boats being turned loose, so the spot market is really slowing down.”

Even demand for the top end 4,000to 5,000-dwt platform supply vessels (PSV) has fallen significantly in the wake of Covid, while the smaller shallow-water boats (1,500-3,000 dwt) have hit rock bottom with the wholesale collapse of jackup drilling, Sanchez added said. “In the immediate term this year, we’re really seeing a downturn in the demand for the big boats and a lot of them are getting tied up at the docks,” he said.

In its most recent quarterly status report, Tidewater listed 121 of its diversified 192-vessel fleet as working globally at the end of second quarter, down 26 active boats year-over-year. Kneen sees activity hitting bottom in the first quarter of 2021 and hopefully begin to recover “slowly” as the year progresses.

“I think we’re not going to be back to where we were before this crisis began by the end of ‘21, but I think we’ll be close. That’s my expectation based on activity levels and projections today,” he said in the July earnings call.

In the meantime, Tidewater is continuing a sweeping disposal program with 25 vessels sold in the first half of 2020, bringing it closer to the cumulative 46 vessels planned for sale by year-end. “We’ve been pretty aggressive and trying to lead the market. The best thing we all can do is get rid of some old boats that aren’t viable anymore and get them out of the equation,”

REFINED PRODUCTS DROP HITS INLAND MARINE SECTOR

N

ot surprisingly, the Covid-19 pandemic has put a dent in the refined product volumes inland barge operators transport from refineries and chemical plants, particularly along the Gulf Coast, which houses half of the nation’s oil refining capacity.

With Gulf Coast refinery and petrochemical plant utilization hovering between 70% and 75% going into the third quarter, Kirby Inland Marine saw the utilization rate of the nation’s largest inland tank barge fleet decline by around 20% from early April to the end of June. “With inland barge utilization starting the (third) quarter in the mid70-percent range, we expect our average third quarter utilization will be sequentially lower and spot market pricing could remain under pressure until a more meaningful improvement in demand is realized," David Grzebinski, president and chief executive officer of Houston-based Kirby Corp., said in the company’s Aug. 2 earnings call.

At the end of the second quarter, Kirby’s fleet was comprised of 1,131 tank barges and 324 towing vessels, though a number of barges were scheduled to be retired over the second half of 2020.

Despite signs pointing to refinery and chemical plant utilization improving near year-end, Covid-19 remains the wild card.

“While this is positive, the resurgence in positive virus cases, new government restrictions and continued high unemployment

Stanley said.

On a more concentrated scale, Rigdon said all five of Jackson Offshore’s 4,357-dwt to 5,069-dwt PSVs are under term contract through 2021 with only one scheduled to roll off contract by the end of the next year. While the quintet is stationed in the Gulf of Mexico, he sees opportunities emerging in Trinidad and neighboring deepwater hot spot Guyana, which is serviced nearly entirely by U.S.-flagged vessels, given their comparably higher liquid mud carrying capacity.

“Those are the two markets outside the Gulf that we remain focused on,” he

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Kirby Corp.

cleaned up balance sheets will enable contractors to profitably re-price rigs more in alignment with today’s operating climate. “You get rid of all that debt and you don’t need $700,000 (a day) to make a decent cash positive return,” he said.

Kirby’s Cottle, a 2,680-hp towboat, pushes a tank barge tow near Houston. creates uncertainty as to the timing of a material economic recovery,” Grzebinski said.

Martin Midstream Partners LP, for another, is advancing scheduled drydockings in hopes refinery demand picks up in the fourth quarter. “Looking towards the third quarter, we continue to see weakness in marine transportation utilization. Based on this weaker near-term outlook, we plan to accelerate the remaining four regulatory required barge drydockings from the fourth quarter into the third quarter,” Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer Robert Bondurant told analysts on July 28.

The Kilgore, Texas-based company engages in the storage, transportation and distribution of petroleum products and byproducts. The company’s marine transportation group, which operates exclusively on the Gulf Coast, has a fleet of 33 inland tank barges, 18 inland pushboats and one offshore articulated tug/barge unit.

– J. Redden

said. “We just haven’t had the opportunity yet, but some of our clients are active in Trinidad and Guyana, so it’s likely we get to working there before too long.”

Emerging opportunities are also being found in the nascent U.S. East Coast offshore wind energy sector, where Stanley said three Tidewater vessels have been involved, on and off, in site surveying. “That’s (offshore wind) picking up for sure. It’s been talked about for some time, but now seems to be getting some momentum,” he said.

“It’s pretty exciting to see some of that take place.”

33

YOUR VOTE COUNTS! Each fall the editors of WorkBoat magazine unveil the Significant Boats of the year and once again this year we want YOU to choose the Boat of the Year.

Check out the image and specs of each vessel and cast your vote!

The Boat of the Year will be announced on December 17 exclusively on WorkBoat.com, but prior to that be sure to join us for a free webinar on December 10 with WorkBoat Senior Editor Ken Hocke and a panel of owners, builders, and designers that are the driving forces behind this year’s Significant Boats.

Sponsored by:

TO VOTE, VISIT

workboat.com

Produced by

Aveogan/ Oliver Leavitt

Boat 42

(483’ ATB)

Owner: Los Angeles Port Police

Owner: Crowley Fuels/ Crowley Maritime Corp.

Builder: Bollinger Shipyards Inc.

(43'x13'4"x6' patrol boat)

Builder and Designer: MetalCraft Marine

Designer: Jenson Maritime

C.D. White, A. Thomas Higgins

Capt. Robb and Ralph

(80'x38'x13'2" tug) Owner: Bisso Offshore LLC

Owner: Harbor Docking & Towing

Builder: Eastern Shipbuilding Group

Builder and Designer: Washburn & Doughty

(93'x38'x15'6" tugs)

Designer: Robert Allan Ltd.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

General MacArthur

Owner: NY Waterway

Owner: Callan Marine

Builder: Yank Marine

Builder: C&C Marine and Repair

Designer: LeMole Naval Architects

Designer: Downey Engineering (hull and superstructure) and SPI/Mobile (dredging equipment)

Goldbelt Seawolf

Jamie Ann, Sarah Averick, Leisa Florence, Rachael Allen

(109'x31’, 599-passenger ferry)

(74'x24' ferry) Owner: Goldbelt Transportation

(290'x72'x16' Cutter Head Suction Dredge)

(100'x40'x17' tug)

Builder: Bay Weld Boats

Owner: Foss Maritime

Designer: Coastwise Corp.

Builder: Nichols Brothers Boat Builders Designer: Jensen Maritime

NW Adventurer (46’x12’ tour boat)

Owner: Argosy Cruises Builder and Designer: Inventech Marine Solutions/ Life Proof Boats

Stephanie Pasentine (120'x35'x9' towboat) Owner: Florida Marine Transporters Builder: Metal Shark Designer: John W. Gilbert Associates

Drones

Airing it Out

Drone applications for the maritime industry are increasing.

By Michael Crowley, Correspondent

36

DPI UAV photos

O

ne sure way for a vessel owner to increase his operating expenses is to ignore the growth building up on the bottom of his boat. There’s no getting around the fact that a heavily fouled bottom leads to increased fuel expenses.

What’s the best way to monitor that growth so you know when to clean the bottom? Hiring a diver can cost up to $4,000, depending on how big the boat is. In addition, you have to schedule a time for the diver, verify that the water flow is less than one knot, and get authorization from the port authority for the diver.

Another option is SeaDrone, a company in Mountain View, Calif., that started out building underwater drone inspection systems for aquaculture operators but soon realized the shipping industry was a much bigger market for their underwater remotely operated vehicles. One of those, the SeaDrone Inspector 3, is an underwater drone that can complete a hull inspection in one hour, with enough detail to satisfy the needs of classification societies.

You can buy a SeaDrone ROV or rent one that comes with a tutorial video. But whether buying or renting, the

A DPI drone operating 500' above the ocean and (in the opening photo above) DPI’s tethered UMAR drone as it departs a vessel. www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

SeaDrone

DPI UAV photos

The SeaDrone Inspector 3 is on a tether and controlled from an iPad.

trasonic measurements to determine the thickness of the hull’s coating or corrosion. You can take samples at various points over the hull. The probe even measures the thickness of hull plating.

SeaDrone

learning curve is minimal. SeaDrone CEO Eduardo Moreno puts the time at under an hour for the SeaDrone Inspector 3. To get it out of the box and up and running in the water only takes about three minutes.

Once in the water, the battery operated, thruster powered SeaDrone is on a tether that’s controlled from an iPad with Wi-Fi capability. Controlling the SeaDrone “is very intuitive,” said Moreno, “because you are using an iPad touch screen” to control the ROV with the SeaDrone app. The tether serves as the data link.

The SeaDrone Inspector 3 has auto depth and auto heading sensors and the camera has an auto pitch sensor.

The new SeaDrone Pro, scheduled to be introduced in November, will have a stationkeeping sensor that keeps it in a set position, or you can “hit go and the robot will go automatically to a waypoint,” said Moreno. There’s also a distance sensor which allows the drone to be moved closer to the hull if water quality is poor and farther away if water is clear, providing a greater field of vision.

When more than a visual inspection of hull fouling is needed a SeaDrone UT Probe is available that uses ul-

The SeaDrone Inspector 3 is an underwater drone that can complete a hull inspection in one hour and provide plenty of detail. www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

UP IN THE AIR Let’s get out of the water and up in the air with DPI UAV Systems’ UMAR. The UMAR, or unmanned multirotor aerial relay, has been specifically designed for maritime use.

“I don’t know of any other companies that have something like this,” said Joe Pawelczyk, UMAR’s vice president of operations.

The UMAR is relatively new, completing testing in April. The UMAR operates at the end of a tether, manufactured by Cortland Cable in Houston.

The tether comes off a deck-mounted reel that allows the UMAR to reach a height of 500'. The UMAR, which gets the power to operate its four rotors through the tether, can take off, follow the vessel it’s tethered to and land on it.

Operating at 500' above the ocean, Pawelczyk sees several possibilities for the UMAR, including communicating range extension, networking, daytime search and rescue work with a camera in a man overboard situation or digitally connecting several vessels back to a shore operator. The UMAR could also extend the operating range of surface unmanned autonomous vessels 37

Drones

FIGHTING CRIME While SeaDrone and DPI UAV have introduced new examples of drone use, Insitu Inc., Bingen, Wash., which designs and builds unmanned aerial vehicle systems, isn’t introducing new technology. However, ScanEagle1, their unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that has been available since 2005, has been instrumental in drug interdiction work and will be on all Coast Guard national security cutters (NSCs) by the end of September.

ScanEagle1 is designed for intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, though recently it took part in a search and rescue mission on the Coast Guard cutter Kimball off the Hawaiian Islands.

However, its primary mission is “stopping transnational organized crime, 38

drug interdiction,” said Ron Tremain, Insitu’s business development director for the Coast Guard.

How effective are NSCs when outfitted with SeaEagle1? “ScanEagle has been instrumental in seizing $4.5 billion worth of cocaine in less than two years,” said Tremain.

One advantage of a UAS such as ScanEagle is that it packs an electro-optical camera, infrared camera, and has visual detection and ranging software similar to radar. “With greater than 90 percent accuracy it can find all targets, down to a human in the water,” said Tremain.

That’s while flying at 2,000' to 3,000' above the ocean.

Beyond drug interdiction, Tremain emphasized that ScanEagle does have workboat applications. It has been used in the Arctic searching for marine mammals and by the oil industry to ensure that shipping channels are clear of ice. It can also be used to detect and map out oil pollution.

The advantage of ScanEagle is that it can “surveil an area much farther ahead of radar and put eyes on targets much farther ahead, as well as surveilling for any threats,” said Tremain. Since it’s watching everything that’s taking place, “that allows people on shore or on a ship to better prepare to help if needed.”

When returning to the ship, ScanEagle has a hook on its wing and the ship has a line extending out from its side that ScanEagle flies to and hooks its wing. “It’s very rare to go past two attempts,” said Tremain.

On the NSCs, Insitu personnel, not the Coast Guard, fly the ScanEagle, after taking a 10- to 14- week training course. Commercial operators that buy a ScanEagle would be able to go through the same course.

The ScanEagle, which weighs about 55 lbs. and has a wingspan of 9', can stay aloft for over 12 hours on less than one gallon of fuel. That’s jet fuel when working off the NSCs.

Insitu’s ScanEagle poses on the Coast Guard national security cutter Stratton with part of $750 million in drugs captured in 2018 in the eastern Pacific.

UES Seating photos Insitu

and might also be used by cargo ships operating off places such as India and Taiwan to detect potential pirates.

Pawelczyk noted that while antennas are on top of a vessel for the best range, “essentially we’ve taken that to 500 feet in altitude.” The UMAR should be able to stay aloft for about 24 miles, depending on environmental conditions.

Of course, the antennas and mast would be an ideal place to tangle up the UMAR’s tether, which, Pawelczyk said, is something the Navy was concerned about. To avoid that scenario, the UMAR’s tethered system won’t be near antennas. It can fly a couple of hundred feet off to the side of the vessel by following a GPS heading. “It will always keep that relative distance to the ship, no matter where the ship maneuvers.”

Rolling and pitching doesn’t affect the UMAR’s operations. Testing was done on an 89’ crewboat in Delaware Bay in sea states 3 and 4 with the boat rolling 60º without any effect on the UMAR. “The aircraft when flying doesn’t care about shipboard motion,” noted Pawelczyk.

Operating the UMAR from take off to landing isn’t particularly complicated. Pawelczyk said two 19-year-old Marines, “fresh out of high school,” were trained in operating the UMAR and could fly it in 15 minutes.

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

BRI DWYER PHOTO

Presented Presented by

by

Starting November 17th, Pacific Marine Expo in conjunction with National Fisherman, will launch Expo Online – a digital hub designed to bring together commercial mariners virtually. The online experience will feature free streaming of educational content and special events, discussions in the National Fisherman Forum, and a comprehensive supplier guide in lieu of an exhibit floor.

Just like the annual show, let Expo Online help you start 2021 with your best foot forward.

Produced by:

EXPO ONLINE Education Program Schedule U.S. Offshore Wind and its effect on Fisheries Nationwide Tuesday, Nov. 17th at 11 AM PT

Vessel Design & Gear Technology Wednesday, Nov. 18th at 11 AM PT

Pebble Mine Update Thursday, Nov. 19th at 11AM PT

Direct Marketing: Ocean to Plate Thursday, Dec. 17th at 1 PM PT

More Expo Online sessions to come!

Check out PacificMarineExpo.com for more updates

BRI DWYER PHOTO

Check out this sample of the Expo Online supplier list. New companies are signing up every day — visit NationalFisherman.com to browse the full Supplier Directory including detailed company info, product listings and more!

Presented Presented by

by

Acupuncture and Wellness Center

DSV Air & Sea Inc

Lunde Marine Electronics Inc

S & W Wilson

AJR Marine Windows Inc

Electric Fishing Reel Systems, Inc.

Mackay Communications, Inc (dba Mackay Marine)

S3 Maritime LLC

Alaska Central Express

Electrical Hub

Marine & Construction Supplies

Alaska Chadux Corporation

Elliott Bay Design Group

Marine Exchange of Puget Sound

Seaspan Shipyards

Alaska Marine Safety Education Assn

Finning Power Solutions Inc

Marine Jet Power AB

Alaska Sea Grant

Flamespray Northwest Inc.

Marine Systems Inc

Seattle Marine & Fishing Supply Co

FLIR Systems

Marport Americas Inc

Seward Chamber of Commerce

Fraser Marine Products

Maximum Performance Hydraulics

Ship Electronics Inc

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute American VULKAN Corp Arrow Marine Services Aquakob Systems Inc. Asano Metal Industry Co Ltd. Ballard Hardware & Supply Inc Bay Weld Boats Beckwith & Kuffel Boats & Harbors Boatswain’s Locker Inc Bostrom, H.O. Co Inc Bristol Bay Brailer Bristol Bay Driftnetters Assoc Bristol Bay Fishermen’s Association Cascade Engine Center LLC Cascade Machinery & Electric Catalyst Marine Eng., LLC CETS LLC Clatsop Community College Coastwise Corporation Columbia Industrial Products Cooley Equipment Sales, Inc. Cordova Port & Harbor Cummins Inc. DA West Deckhand Electronic Logbook Delta Western llc, dba Delta Western Petroleum DiscountHydraulicHose.com Distribution International DNV GL USA, Inc. Dock Street Brokers Dong Yang Rope Mfg Co Ltd Driveline Service of Portland Inc

Freedman Seating Company Fundiciones Rice, S.A. de C.V. Furuno USA Garmin USA Gaski Marine Giddings Boat Works Glosten Great Lakes Maritime Academy Guy Cotten Inc Hamilton Jet Hammonds Fuel Additives Inc HANSA-FLEX USA Harbor Marine Maintenance Hatton Marine Hiller Companies (The) Hockema Whalen Myers Associates ICOM America Inc Imtra Corp International Marine Industries Inc J&L Hydraulics Inc JMP Corporation John Deere Power Systems Jotun Paints Inc Kaman Fluid Power Kinematics Marine Equipment Inc Kobelt Manufacturing Co Ltd Konrad Marine KVH Industries Inc Lignum-Vitae Bearings LifeMed Alaska Logan Clutch Corp

Samson Tug & Barge Inc Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial

McDermott Light & Signal

Ships Machinery International Inc

MER Equipment

Simplex Americas LLC

Miller-Leaman Inc

Si-Tex Marine Electronics

Millner-Haufen Tool Company

Sound Propeller Services

Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine America, Inc.

Spears Manufacturing Company

Modutech Marine Inc

Standard Calibrations Inc

Naiad Dynamics NC Power Systems Network Innovations NOAA Nobeltec Inc

Spurs Marine Manufacturing Inc Stearns Strongback Metal Boats Sure Marine Service Inc The Mary Conlin Company Inc

North American Fishing Supplies

Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors LLC

Northern Air Cargo

Thrustmaster of Texas

North River Boats

Thyboron Trawldoor A/S

Notus Electronics Ltd Olympic Propeller Company

TideSlide Mooring Systems PSI Marine Inc

Oregon Fishermen’s Cable Committee

Titan Fittings TRIM-LOK, INC.

Pacific Boat Brokers Inc

Twin Disc Incorporated

Pacific Power Group

U.S. Navy

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

United Fishermen of Alaska

PAC Stainless Ltd

Washington Machine Works

Performance Contracting Inc Petro 49, Inc. dba Petro Marine Services Propulsion Systems, Inc. PYI Inc Radar Marine Electronics Rapp Marine U.S. Inc/MacGregor RINA Roxtec

Wager Company Washington Sea Grant Washington Trollers Association Whistle Workwear Wiehle Industries Inc. Woods Hole Group Wooster Products Inc ZAZZ Engineering Inc ZF Marine

Rutter Inc.

Produced by:

PortofCall

Your Source For Employment, Equipment & Services

EMPLOYMENT IMMEDIATE OPENINGS: Captains, Mates, Engineers, AB’s and Deckhands

2ND ASST ENGINEER PLD CL 1 Dredge JADWIN

Dann Ocean Towing is A leading provider of marine towing services, serving the Eastern Seaboard, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and beyond.

About the Position: 2nd Assistant Engineer assigned to the Dredge JADWIN, Operations Division, River Operations Branch.

To Apply Please Visit www.DannOceanTowing.com 3670 S Westshore Boulevard Tampa, FL 33629

Vicksburg, MS

Phone (813) 251-5100

Federal Job ⬧ Full Benefits Full Time ⬧ Permanent Must have USCG Assistant Engineer Limited or Higher. The work schedule while in Vicksburg, MS will be 40 hours a week, while dredging the work schedule will be a rotating 6 hour shift 7 days on 3 days off then 7 days on 4 days off. This is a permanent full time position with overtime, full government benefits TSP, Insurance, paid time off, and Federal Employee Retirement System.

Apply Online at:

www.usajobs.gov

SEE MORE JOBS ONLINE * * workboat.com/resources/jobs/

NOW HIRING!!!

BARGE PERSONNEL

• • • • • •

Superintendents Foremen Leadermen Mechanics Crane Operators Barge Clerks

• • • • • •

Tower Operators Riggers Welders Cooks Galleyhands AB/Bosun

SHORE OFFSHORE SERVICES Has Immediate Openings!                   

Derrick Barge Deck Foreman Leadermen Rigger Derrick Crane Operator Deck Crane Operator Tower Operator Welding Foreman Welder (6 GR Certified) Clerk Chief Engineer Chief Electrician Mechanic Oiler Electrician Steward Night Cook Galley Hand Tug Boat Captain Able Body Seamen

Minimum 2 years offshore experience onboard a derrick barge required.

Applicants must have a valid TWIC card.

Email resume to:

jobs@shoreoffshore.com

OFFSHORE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Benefits includes Health, Dental, Vision, Disability/Life and 401K. Must be able to pass physical and drug screen.

EEO M/F/D/V www.morrisonenergy.com

44

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

For Port of Call advertising, email wjalbert@divcom.com or call 207-842-5496

EMPLOYMENT NOW HIRING!

Marine Technicians Responsible for performing preventative and corrective maintenance on United States Customs and Border Protection Vessels, United States Coast Guard Vessels and other First responder vessels and related equipment as directed. 22 work sites across the US.

Please send resumes to:

mhanson@globalmaritek.com

MARINE GEAR & SUPPLIES LAW

DATREX Maxflow Mesh Vests

1-800-40-PILOT Sales@PilothouseCharts.com www.PilothouseCharts.com www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

45

PortofCall

Your Source For Employment, Equipment & Services

MARINE GEAR & SUPPLIES Powering Progress on the Atchafalaya for 95 years!

24 Hr. Manned Facility LET US HELP YOU WITH YOUR FUEL AND LUBE NEEDS! info@riofuel.com - 985-384-8090 - www.riofuel.com

Now Manufacturing and Installing Fire Retardant Bunk Curtains

We are a Custom Manufacturer of Wheelhouse Tinted Shades & Crew Quarter Blackout Shades

We custom build every shade to fit each window in our facility.

They are Incredibly durable, driven by over-sized clutches and operated by a stainless steel pull chain.

We offer measurement and installation services in Southern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. We carry $5,000,000 workers’ compensation, and liability insurance policies with U.S.L.&H. and the Jones Act.

Download our order form to purchase your shades today.

Contact: Edward Kass III | 504-615-5833 | ekass@solarboatshades.com | www.solarboatshades.com

Keel Coolers Trouble free marine engine cooling since 1927!

BARGE PUMPS

THE WALTER MACHINE CO, INC Tel: 201-656-5654 • Fax: 201-656-0318 www.waltergear.com

IMO ROTARY SCREW ASPHALT PUMPS BYRON JACKSON TURBINE PUMPS BLACKMER ROTARY GEAR PUMPS OUR 110TH YEAR

DUVIC’S PUMPS “Greater Downtown” HARVEY, LA 70059 Box 1237 • 504-341-1654 PH/FX

46

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

For Port of Call advertising, email wjalbert@divcom.com or call 207-842-5496

MARINE GEAR & SUPPLIES

Marine Rubber Seals & Weatherstripping! marine.steelerubber.com

R

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Multiple extrusion choices for hatches and cabin doors!

A variety of Rub Rail Insert Kits!

THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL

for removing coatings and rust

Seals of all shapes and sizes.

Windshield Mounting & Screw Track Cover

Visit Us! - Marine Equipment Tent, Booth 486 Rustibus® is designed to de-scale and power brush ship decks, hatch covers, tank tops, etc. free from paint and rust!

USA OFFICE Ph: 832-203-7170 houston@rustibus.com

Place your ad! Contact:

Wendy Jalbert wjalbert@divcom.com | www.workboat.com/resources/jobs/

Marine Rubber Seals & Weatherstripping

BY THE FOOT - ORDER TODAY! ORE

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Livewell Seals

Windshield Mounting Rubber

Screw Track Insert Seals

marine.steelerubber.com www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Rub Rail Insert Kits

800-563-9810 47

PortofCall

Your Source For Employment, Equipment & Services

MARINE GEAR & SUPPLIES The Alutech and OP Series Chairs & Deck Rails

Greater Quality. Greatest Value.

Alu Design offers a standard product line in addition to the option for customization to suit specific needs.

Sleek modern design and maximum utility and comfort are emphasized.

No matter whether you call it a pilot chair, helm chair, navigator chair or operator seat, we have the chair for your application.

www.alu-design.no

In-Mar Solutions offers a complete line of Alu Design & Services chairs and deck rails.

www.inmarsolutions.com 

info@inmarsolutions.com

(225) 644-7063

36-inch Diameter Modular Plastic Pontoons The Best Idea Since the Indian Canoe

Uses: Pontoon boats, house boats,

workboats—replace old steel or aluminum pontoons Heavy Duty: Molded from sturdy, medium density polyethylene (MDPF) and filled with polyurethane foam for increased stability Modular: Each bow, middle and stern modules are 10 ft. in length Displacement at full submersion:

Bow module supports gross weight of 3,100 lbs. and middle/stern each supports 4,200 lbs.

MARINE MACHINING & MANUFACTURING Your One-Stop Shop for Your Marine Drive Needs Sales and Service

Sales and Service

• A17, A19, A22 and A22HS • Propeller Shafting Bar Stock lengths up to 36’ • C.N.C. Machined Propeller Shafting • Precision Propeller Shaft straightening & repair

• Custom Machined Shaft Couplings up to 30” diameter • Michigan Wheel Propellers • Propeller Repair

5602 Sea Grapes Way The Village, FL 32163 Phone: 419-675-0002 info@wilsonpontoons.com

Toll Free: 877-456-2531

www.plasticpontoon.com

W O R L D L E A D E R I N B O AT S H A F T I N G World's Largest Stocking Distributor of AQUAMET PH. 586-791-8800

33475 Giftos Dr., Clinton Township, MI 48035 ◼

www.marinemachining.com - www.aquamet.com

48

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

For Port of Call advertising, email wjalbert@divcom.com or call 207-842-5496

MARINE GEAR & SUPPLIES

BOLLARD™ MARINE GENERATORS Designed & Built for the Harsh Marine Environment

99kW LOWEST COST OF OWNERSHIP MORE COPPER MEANS IT RUNS COOLER & USES LESS FUEL

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EPOXY COATING PROVIDES ENHANCED CORROSION RESISTANCE

Advertising Contact: 800.777.0714

Locate a dealer www.merequipment.com

www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Wendy Jalbert wjalbert@divcom.com

49

PortofCall

Your Source For Employment, Equipment & Services

SERVICES Become a member of the Council of American Master Mariners and join us in supporting the U.S. Merchant Marine, the Jones Act and the Seaman’s working rights.

We Build the Ship First.

Production Lofting Detail Design 3D Modeling St. John’s, NL | Vancouver, BC | New Orleans, LA 709.368.0669 | 504.287.4310 | www.genoadesign.com

Go to:

www.mastermariner.org Coast Guard & State Pilotage License Insurance Available Coverages; Legal Defense for CG, NTSB and State Pilot Hearings; Federal and State Civil Actions Reimbursement for Loss of Wages Group Coverage Also Available

MB Brokerage Co. | MB Barge Co. | BG Fleeting

R.J. Mellusi & Co., 29 Broadway, Suite 2311 New York, N.Y. 10006 Tel. 1(800)280-1590, Fax. 1(212)385-0920, rjmellusi@sealawyers.com www.marinelicenseinsurance.com

Winches | Barges | Boats Cranes | Vessel Charters & Storage Chris Gonsoulin, Owner (850) 255-5266

Become a Certified and Accredited Marine Surveyor

cgonsoul@gmail.com

www.mbbrokerage.net

Fishing Vessel Qualified. Complete course and examination for all vessel types and uses.

1-800-245-4425 or navsurvey.com

Advertising Contact: Wendy Jalbert wjalbert@divcom.com

SERVICES Engineering, Estimating and Project Management

SERVICES

Maritime Regulatory and Legal Matters

Grants, Capex Improvements and Business Development

850.698.8181 50

419 South 1st Street, Pensacola, FL 32507 ashley@stone-marivise.com

I

WWW.STONE-MARIVISE.COM www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

For Port of Call advertising, email wjalbert@divcom.com or call 207-842-5496

ADVERTISERS INDEX Ahead Sanitation Systems Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

MAN Engines & Components Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

All American Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

McDermott Light & Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Armstrong Marine USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Mitsubishi Turbocharger & Engine America, Inc . . . 5

BAE Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Moteurs Baudouin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

BMT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

MTU America Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV2

Bostrom, H .O . Co Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Pacific Marine Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40, 41, 42, 43

Browns Point Marine Service, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Panolin America Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Burger Boat Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Pfannenberg Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Carolina Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Philadelphia Gear, A Timken Brand . . . . . . . . . . . 11

C & C Marine and Repair LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

R M Young Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Cummins Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

R W Fernstrum & Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Duramax Marine LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV3

Sea Machines Robotics Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Furuno USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Tulsa Winch Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

International WorkBoat Show . . . . . . . . . . . . .34+35

US Watercraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Karl Senner, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CV4

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

Extent and Nature of Circulation

Avg No. Copies Actual No.Copies of Each Issue of Single Issue During Preceding Published Nearest 12 Months to Filing Date

(SECTION 3685, Title 39, United States Code) October 1, 2020 WORKBOAT is published monthly by Diversified Communications, 121 Free Street, PO Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112.

PUBLISHER: Jerry Fraser, Diversified Communications, PO Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112; EDITOR: David Krapf, PO Box 1348 Mandeville, LA 70470; OWNER: Diversified Holding Co., 121 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101.

Annual Subscriptions for WorkBoat: USA: $39.00 Canada: $55.00 All other countries: Airmail $103.00 INDIVIDUAL STOCKHOLDERS OWNING OR HOLDING 1% OR MORE OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF DIVERSIFIED HOLDING CO. STOCK AS OF TODAY OR SOONER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2020

Josephine H. Detmer 121 Free Street Portland, Maine 04101

Thomas W. Hildreth 121 Free Street Portland, Maine 04101

Zareen Taj Mirza 121 Free Street Portland, Maine 04101

Anita Sundaram

121 Free Street Portland, Maine 04101

Daniel W. Hildreth 121 Free Street Portland, Maine 04101 Malcolm B. Hildreth 121 Free Street Portland, Maine 04101

WB20_Nov_Statement_of_Ownership.indd www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER12020 • WorkBoat

TOTAL NO. OF COPIES PRINTED: Paid/or Requested through Circulation (Not Mailed): Paid or Requested Mail Subscriptions:

23,407

22,896

-0-

-0-

21,407

20,750

Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 21,407

20,750

Free Distribution

by Mail:

1,774

1,784

Free Distribution outside the Mail:

396

50

Total Nonrequested Distribution:

2,170

1,834

Total Distribution:

23,577

22,584

289

293

22,866

22,877

89.7% 3,716

90.7% 4,369

Copies Not Distributed: Office Use, Left overs, Spoiled Total: Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: Paid Electronic Copies

10/6/20 9:37 AM 51

LOOKS BACK NOVEMBER 1960

• J.W. Hershey, chairman of the board of American Commercial Barge Co. in an address before the 15th annual conference of the National Defense Transportation Association in New Orleans last month, reported on a recent 10,000-mile inspection tour of river operations in the Soviet Union made by a U.S. inland waterway industry delegation. The

tour was part of a State Departmentsponsored exchange program.

• Two 273'×41'×12'6" independent pressure tank barges carrying an ABS Maltese Cross A-1 classification for river service were built recently

by Avondale Shipyards Inc., New Orleans, for Union Texas Natural Gas Corp., Tulsa, Okla.

• Designed for service on the Missouri and NOVEMBER 1970 Mis• Swiftships Inc., Morgan City, La., has been awarded a $1.18 million contract by the Navy for construction of six 65' aluminum patrol vessels. The boats, scheduled for duty in the Pacific, are designed for coastal patrol activity. The new contract brings the total number of boats under construction at the new shipyard to 35, ranging in size from 42' crewboats to 110' crew/supply boats.

• ForNOVEMBER 1980 mation

• Loran A service provided by rate 3H3 in the western Gulf of Mexico has been terminated, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Severe storm damage from Hurricane Allen was cited. The station was scheduled to be terminated on Dec. 31 as the Loran A system is phased out.

• Sen. James O. Eastland, D-Miss., 52

sissippi rivers from Omaha, Neb., to New Orleans, the new $500,000, 120', 3,200-hp towboat Gilda McCool was recently christened on the Lake Ferguson waterfront in Greenville, Miss. of St. Philip Towing and Transportation Co., Tampa, Fla., and the acquisition of all outstanding stock and equipment of Tampa Bay Towing Co. has been announced by St. Philip officials.

served his country in the U.S. Senate for 26 years until his recent retirement.

It appears his waterways namesake, the Senator Eastland, might have an equally impressive career. Owned by Brent Towing, Greenville, Miss., the 147' towboat built by Superior Boatworks, Greenville, Miss., has been plying the inland waterways since 1974. www.workboat.com • NOVEMBER 2020 • WorkBoat

Engineering Cooling Systems with Superior Craftsmanship and Technology.

Trust Duramax Marine Heat Exchanger Solutions. ®

If you’re building a new vessel, repowering, or repairing a damaged heat exchanger system, you can trust Duramax Marine® to guide you every step of the way.

Duramax® cooling experts have the knowledge, experience and the latest in efficient cooling solutions. We will recommend and engineer the perfect, efficient long-lasting cooling system for your vessel.

DuraCooler® Keel Cooler One piece 90/10 copper-nickel streamlined header design for improved efficiency.

DuraCooler® SuprStak™ System Custom stacked design DuraCooler® doubles heat efficiency in half the hull space.

Duramax® Demountable Keel Cooler Expandable copper-nickel spiral tube system for steel hull vessels.

Duramax® BoxCooler In-hull protection from damage, design flexibility, and large cooling capacity, with anti-fouling prevention systems.

www.DuramaxMarine.com

Duramax Marine® is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company

Products And Knowledge You Trust

p: 440.834.5400 f: 800.497.9283

1

2

3

Karl Senner, LLC offers REINTJES gearboxes with 3-Piece Housings available for drivelines 700hp and higher.

In a free-standing arrangement, the 3-piece housing allows access to all internal components without disturbing the foundation or alignment. Top shafts, clutches, and output shafts can be serviced by simply removing external plumbing and rigging the casing in less than one day’s work.

NOTE: Smaller gearboxes are also available in alternative housings arrangements.

DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE YOUR UPTIME. Karl Senner Parts & Service: • Locations in New Orleans, Houston, Seattle & Paducah • 24/7 Customer Service • Highly Trained Service Technicians • Expansive Parts Inventory • Fast & Dependable Turnaround