Passenger Vessels & Ferries:: An Evolving Industry
Passenger Vessels & Ferries:: An Evolving Industry
Passenger Vessels & Ferries:: An Evolving Industry
The Information Authority for the Workboat Offshore Inland Coastal Marine Markets
News
JANUARY 2015
www.marinelink.com
Passenger
Vessels & Ferries:
An evolving industry
12/23/2014 3:44:30 PM
12/19/2014 4:40:59 PM
CONTENTS
INSIGHTS
12
Johan Roos
Executive Director of European Union and
IMO Affairs, Interferry
COLUMNS
18
FINANCE:
A Commercial Marine Lender and
Lessors Lexicon
A primer for lenders and borrowers alike.
By Richard J. Paine, Sr.
24
BOATBUILDING:
Ferry Fixation
The effort to strengthen bottom lines, safety margins
and the collective environmental footprint.
By Joe Hudspeth
ARCTIC OPERATIONS
41
Features
32
By Susan Buchanan
36
TRAINING & EDUCATION
44
ON THE COVER
a
Marine
4HE )NFORMATION !UTHORITY FOR THE 7ORKBOAT s /FFSHORE s )NLAND s #OASTAL -ARINE -ARKETS
News
DECK MACHINERY
48
2 MN
JANUARY 2015
WWWMARINELINKCOM
Passenger
Vessels & Ferries:
An evolving industry
January 2015
12/22/2014 2:27:46 PM
12/22/2014 2:23:06 PM
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Volume 26 Number 1
Editors Note
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By the Numbers
The world of domestic and global ferries
and passenger vessels, By-the-Numbers.
Web Editor
Eric Haun haun@marinelink.com
Contributing Writers
Susan Buchanan Lawrence R. DeMarcay, III
Joe Hudspeth Randy ONeill
21
PRODUCTION
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OP/ED:
Knowing the Rules of the Road
By Michael Borgstrom
SALES
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Rob Howard howard@marinelink.com
22
Market Outlook
Canadas Ferry Industry
Setting a course for success.
By Serge Buy
28
51
Vessels
52
57
Products
60
Classified Advertising
64
Advertisers Index
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4 MN
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January 2015
12/22/2014 2:28:31 PM
12/19/2014 4:41:35 PM
EDITORS NOTE
O
keefe@marinelink.com
ur annual Ferry and Passenger Vessel edition kicks off the New Year in high gear, even if
oil prices arent necessarily following suit. As vessel operators our ferry drivers included
celebrate lower bunker prices, another maritime subset frets over what might happen to
the offshore service market if the downturn in crude oil prices continues unabated for a significant
length of time. That said; if your market focus is ferries and/or passenger vessels, then you wont find
another more comprehensive or diverse look at this sector than that which is depicted in the pages
that follow. It turns out that the passenger vessel and ferry industry is a forward-thinking, innovative
and problem solving group of businesses.
From the Passenger Vessel Association to the World Ferry Safety Association and all the way to global ferry
advocates Interferry, weve got you covered. And, there is tremendous amount of activity ongoing in this
sector. For example, and despite some well-deserved criticism over the past year, most of which revolves
around international events as opposed to that which happens on this side of the pond, the domestic
ferry industry has shown itself to be resilient, safe and well operated. Thats not to say there isnt room for
improvement clearly, there is. Its also true that the U.S. ferry sector is one of the most highly regulated
of any maritime business. This edition naturally deals with those challenges, and much, much more.
January also brings us, appropriately enough, sharp focus into the world of cold weather and
Arctic operations. And, when we talk about cold weather issues, Alaska comes to mind first. There,
workboats face unique challenges as they go about their myriad mission sets. Ice navigation and related issues arent necessarily confined to the great snowy North, however. For that reason, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL)
in Hanover, New Hampshire focuses on phenomena such as icing on superstructures, brash ice and
propulsion systems, and controlling ice dams. And, while CRREL scientists are at home in the highest polar latitudes, its also true that a lot of its work takes place in the lower 48, where cold weather
can put a crimp on Great Lakes and inland waterborne commerce. That story begins on page 41.
Separately, and as the USACE plies their innovative research to improve the plight of brown
water mariners working in adverse weather conditions, private industry isnt sitting on its collective
hands, either. Cutting edge, safer deck equipment and machinery has been introduced to the inland
towboat and barge sector. The same firm Patterson Manufacturing that in a very short period
of time made the YoYo barge winch just another part of everyday riverboat lexicon has introduced
a potentially game-changing boat-to-barge coupling system. Everyone, whether they reside in the
ferry, offshore, inland or cold weather sectors, is looking for the same things: efficiency, economy,
safety and yes, profitability. And it all stems from the same place: innovation.
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6 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 2:29:26 PM
12/19/2014 4:42:40 PM
BY THE NUMBERS
January 2015
12/22/2014 2:30:26 PM
12/19/2014 4:42:54 PM
BY THE NUMBERS
Table 1
Census
Region
Number of
Passengers
Number of
Vehicles
Operators
Terminals
Route
Segments
Mean Route
Dist.
Total Route
Dist.
Northeast
26,628,636
5,421,907
58
136
123
9.9
1,113
Midwest
11,385,756
4,455,728
37
73
72
13.0
794
South
26,273,595
9,777,894
79
134
121
6.0
662
West
35,986,494
15,271,437
44
123
131
41.4
4,887
Other
2,548,062
138,919
10
12
14
45.0
331
Total
102,822,543
37,094,351
461
18.6
7787
Source: Research and Innovative Technology Administrations (RITAs) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Leading numbers
highlighted in RED.
2013 WFSA Ferry Design Contest Winner
10 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 2:30:43 PM
12/23/2014 3:44:00 PM
INSIGHTS
Johan Roos
Executive Director of European
Union and IMO Affairs,
Interferry
12/22/2014 2:30:58 PM
12/19/2014 4:43:23 PM
INSIGHTS
tives. Interferry recognizes the need to improve shippings
environmental performance, but seeks a more nuanced
approach from regulators and governments such as the
stepwise, gradual improvements in the automotive industry over many decades. By comparison, recent maritime
regulations have tended to be aspirational and binary - aspirational in the sense that the requirements have not been
anchored in what is feasible but in what is theoretically
possible with new technology; and binary in the sense that
either there is a new rule to reduce something by 99%, or
no rule at all is imposed, as with ballast water. Another
example is the requirement to reduce NOx emissions from
20% to 80% in one go a step so dramatic that countries
shy away from designating NECAs. As engines today can
be designed for something like a 50% NOx reduction,
it would make more sense to abolish the NECA concept
and, instead, gradually require all new engines to perform
better. Interferry believes it would be possible to design
phase-in/phase-out schemes for new regulations making
allowances for ships near the end of their life cycle.
Just thirteen years after 9/11, the passenger vessel industry has to look inward to ask itself: Are we
secure? What more can be done? What has the global
community done?
The shipping industry invested a lot of money on security after 9/11. If piracy is excluded which in any case
is criminal activity there have been no serious terrorist
attacks on shipping. We are comfortable with the security
provisions put in place by the IMO very shortly after 9/11
and believe those rules have lifted the industrys security
awareness to an appropriate level. We also find that cooperation with Flag Administrations on security matters
works well in general. However, we look forward to any
future revision of the International Ship & Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, as it was done in quite a hurry. There
are certain elements that could be made more effective and
adapted to local conditions.
Is ferry transportation growing globally? Is the international version of shortsea shipping more developed than in North America? How do you see its role
in the future?
We do not have any reliable figures on domestic transport volumes in non-OECD countries, but for international OECD markets we do not see any significant changes the tendency in North America and Europe is a slow
decline since the turn of the century, exacerbated by the
financial crisis.
14 MN
Short sea shipping is well developed in Europe, particularly in the north, and there is a common political ambition to increase the market share of short sea shipping although preciously few functional policy instruments ever
materialize. Since ferry services exist due to bodies of water
separating local markets, the situation in North America
is quite different to that in Europe or the Far East. The
areas most conducive to short sea shipping in the US and
Canada are the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes and the
Gulf of St Lawrence.
Have North American ferry operators been impacted
by the Korean ferry incident? How about international
operators? If so, how?
There is no basis in the Sewol disaster to criticize international ferry safety. What is most concerning to Interferry is that the accident occurred in an advanced nation like
South Korea and has many similarities to ferry accidents in
developing countries. Our partner organization the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association has compiled a record of all
ferry accidents in the public domain since 2000. During
this period, some 15,000 people have lost their lives or are
missing due to ferry accidents, with 93% of these casualties occurring on domestic operations. No casualties have
been recorded for international services between OECD
countries. After the major ferry casualties of the 80s and
90s Herald of Free Enterprise, Jan Heweliusz, Scandinavian Star, Estonia very effective measures have been
enforced through the IMO Conventions and European
legislation. The international industrys track record underlines Interferrys confidence in these regulations.
January 2015
12/22/2014 2:31:09 PM
www.marinelink.com
MN 15
12/19/2014 4:43:34 PM
INSIGHTS
Have the IMO and U.S. Coast Guard taken into account the cumulative burden of regulatory mandates?
What is the regulatory hammers real impact operationally and financially?
Regulators dont take the cumulative burden into account. Although many countries have prerequisites to undertake cost benefit analysis for national laws, this mentality does not seem to follow suit when they negotiate at the
IMO. It doesnt help that, very often, environment ministry officials represent their country at the IMO on issues
that obviously should be dealt with by the transport and
trade ministries.
The passenger vessel industry represents half of the
U.S. inspected fleet, and a large percentage of the
international fleet. How safe is the industry and what
is Interferry doing to ensure safety?
Actually, passenger vessels do not represent a large percentage of the worlds merchant fleet. The US anomaly
results from the market distortions of the Jones Act. Interferry is mainly engaged at international level, helping
to develop functional requirements that ensure safe operations without imposing unnecessary costs on operators.
Those international rules should then, ideally, form the
basis for domestic rules in individual countries, ensuring
safe ferry transportation in all markets but there is no
such requirement, which unfortunately is evident in certain parts of the world.
Ten years after the Ballast Water Management Convention was adopted by the IMO, it has still not entered
into force. When it does and for ferry operations, it
has become increasingly clear that the original intention of the Convention to prevent spread of invasive
species between areas far apart has not factored in
properly the situation for ships continuously operating in the same geographic area. What is Interferry
doing to address this?
12/22/2014 2:31:21 PM
www.marinelink.com
12/22/2014 10:37:55 AM
COLUMN
FINANCE
12/22/2014 2:36:00 PM
12/22/2014 2:36:19 PM
COLUMN
FINANCE
20 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 11:20:58 AM
COLUMN
OP/ED
to question whether these boat rental operations are appropriate for certain commercial waterways. The risk of a
marine incident continues to rise with the proliferation of
irresponsible recreational use of our waterways.
In Chicago we have been working to find solutions to
this problem. I have personally met with several kayak
rental operators to increase awareness and educate each
other on navigation and training practices. For example,
the U.S. Coast Guard sponsored a Port and Waterway
Safety Assessment in 2012 identifying high traffic areas on
the Chicago River. And, we formed the Chicago Harbor
Safety Committee in 2013 bringing together all key stakeholders and with the mission to develop strategies for safe
boating education and awareness.
To elevate this issue to the national level Ive worked
closely with the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) to
provide industry leadership. PVA and I have briefed the
National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard
leadership on the real world challenges of operating in this
environment. Beyond this, PVA recently spoke with members of the National Boating Safety Advisory Council voicing concern and commenting on national boating safety
awareness projects.
I call upon all stakeholders to become a part of a proactive national dialogue to identify and analyze this growing problem of unsafe and irresponsible recreational and
rental users by engaging all stakeholders to develop solutions that facilitate marine transportation and commerce
while enhancing and improving marine safety for all users
of Americas waterways. We must encourage our government leaders and all stakeholders to get involved finding a
solution to this growing problem.
MN 21
12/22/2014 2:36:45 PM
COLUMN
MARKET OUTLOOK
Halifax), access to some airports (Toronto and Prince Rupert), and crossing of various waterways. Whether you are
traveling across the Georgia Strait to Vancouver Island, voyaging across the Bay of Fundy from Digby to Saint John or
commuting to work from Lvis to Qubec City, Canadian
ferry operators are responsible for getting you there.
Growth in Canadas ferry industry doesnt just stop at
ridership. Ferry operators are poised, in the next five years,
to make significant investments and upgrades to their
fleets. Some are purchasing new vessels while others are
retrofitting and upgrading older vessels. Thats on top of
directly and indirectly providing meaningful employment
to more than 20,000 Canadians.
While investments in capital and human resources are a
measure of the importance of the sector, what is more difficult to measure is the economic impact of ferries on communities, businesses and residents. Without ferries, some
communities would be unable to get crucial goods such as
food and fuel while others would need to have these goods
transported by trucks with detours of hundreds of kilometres in some situations.
Our ferries are always working toward a greener tomorrow and looking for ways to minimize their carbon footprint. Now, more than ever, we are seeing innovative tech-
courtesy of CFOA
22 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 2:38:52 PM
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MN 23
12/22/2014 2:37:59 PM
COLUMN
BOATBUILDING
Ferry Fixation
The good, the bad and the ugly: it all adds up to the global effort to strengthen
bottom lines, safety margins and the collective environmental footprint.
By Joe Hudspeth
FERRY FURY
The fury of ferry fabrication also happens to come at a
time when ferry design and ferry safety is under fire. Punching just about anything ferry related into an internet search
browser of your choice will quickly yield reminders of the
tragic Sewol ferry disaster that claimed over 300 lives. As
this column goes to print, the news of at least 129 bodies
being recovered from a capsized ferry in the Congo is also
just being revealed. Sadly, ferry tragedies of this kind are
not rare occurrences and poor ferry design, maintenance,
and operation often makes the difference between death
and life. The Worldwide Ferry Safety Association (WFSA)
has initiated a grassroots effort to introduce safe and affordable ferry designs for problematic routes around the
world. Each year, naval architecture students from universities spanning the globe, participate in WFSAs ferry design competition in which a comprehensive vessel design
and feasibility study is submitted based upon the featured
route. A student team from Memorial University in Newfoundland won the 2014 competition with a new design
King County Ferry District is set to take delivery of the very first ferry of 2015, the Sally Fox, as part of
their water taxi service in Seattle, Washington.
24 MN
January 2015
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12/22/2014 10:38:43 AM
COLUMN
BOATBUILDING
FREQUENT FERRIERS
In rare instances, a ferry can
be a magical conveyance to a
new land otherwise unobtainable. The masses, however, are
typically enslaved to ferry ridership as the only viable option
to transit to various workplaces and chambers of commerce.
There is no novelty for those who dwell on board as a notorious ferry commuter. Commuter culture is something
to behold and identifying such frequent voyagers is an easy
task. If you happen to counter their culture, they will let you
know in one way or another most commonly with rolled
eyes, or in extreme situations, a horn may be honked. Those
who embrace mass transit commuting take ownership of
their vessel, favorite seat, and have a firm routine. Any disruption to the normalcy of their commute is bound to ruin
26 MN
January 2015
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www.marinelink.com
12/22/2014 11:20:04 AM
SAFETY
Ferry Safety
in the Developing World
A Moment of Opportunity
By Roberta Weisbrod
convergence of forces makes for market opportunities for new safe ferry systems in the developing
world. Need, policy, and funding are poised to
provide a moment of opportunity.
The expanding global economy has resulted in economic
and population growth in developing world cities, resulting
in horrendous road congestion. In response, governments
and businesses have begun planning for intra-urban ferries
wherever possible. Ferries in the developing world have a
deserved reputation for being unsafe. A recent in-depth
study commissioned by the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association found that that since the year 2000, there have been
over 160 accidents causing 17,000 fatalities; the vast majority95%of these accidents occurred in developing
nations. That said; the resources exist to do ferries right.
Images above: (left) Ferry Design Winner in the 2013 Contest and the 2014 Winner (right).
28 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 2:41:05 PM
SAFETY
with WFSA are given terms of reference regarding the level
of detail needed. Students have been solicited from maritime institutions all over the world, and the competition
has attracted teams from schools in China, Turkey, India,
Greece, Germany, France, Belgium, Australia, and the
United Kingdom, not to mention the U.S. and Canada.
Each year, as many as thirteen student teams initially register, but only six or seven teams stay the course and actually
have completed designs.
The Competition
An international team of five professionally prominent
judges, based in the United States, Scotland, Bangladesh,
and Papua New Guinea, select the winning designs. Interestingly, many student teams took it on themselves to
address the problem of overcrowding by designing their
vessels to be safe even if substantially overcrowded. There
were many variations presented in terms of hull shape, sitespecific safety features, and fuel type employed. Some of
the most creative vessels were unfortunately not appropriate to the situation, but could work elsewhere. For example, the Webb Institute teams vessel could be expanded to
handle variable numbers of passengers with an insert like
the leaves of a table.
In 2014, the competition was specified for an oceangoing ferry with a carrying capacity 200 passengers and ro-ro
cargo between Lae on the main island of Papua New Guinea to Kavieng on an outer island via two stops over a transit
distance of 700 NM. This vessel was a surrogate for a host
of other needed inter-island ferries for the South Pacific.
After deliberations, the judges concluded that the student team from Newfoundlands Memorial University won
the competition for their design of a double-hulled vessel
using such affordable features as mild (low carbon, readily
wieldable) steel, standard components, and a chined hull
(method of attaching the bottom to the sides), all of which
allow for simplified construction. The design calls for diesel electric propulsion, which, while somewhat more expensive to acquire, is expected to be cost-effective in terms
of fuel consumption and maintenance savings. The Newfoundland team, which received the top prize of $5,000,
was led by Edward Moakler, with teammates Logan Miller,
Nicholas Boyd, Luke Hancox, Bethany Randall, and Aron
Ng. Dr. Heather Peng served as faculty advisor. University
of British Columbia students were awarded second prize
with Nantes and Bremen student teams were third prize
awardees for a total of an additional $5000 in prizes.
In 2013, the competition to design a 500 passenger ferry
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MN 29
12/22/2014 2:44:30 PM
SAFETY
Training
One of the issues that surfaced from our two trips to
Dhaka was the lack of crew
training. To address that,
members of Interferry contributed their expertise to create a course based on Bangladesh needs as communicated
by the Director General of the
Bangladesh Shipping Department. IMO contributed resources for Videotel to prepare
a professional presentation. Interferry paid for the translation, salaries and food for the crew and teachers over
the two days each time the course was given. The course,
30 MN
12/22/2014 2:45:08 PM
www.marinelink.com
12/22/2014 10:39:45 AM
32 MN
According to the most recent federal data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics in 2010, U.S. ferries carried nearly 103 million passengers and 37 million vehicles
in 2009. I believe that the results of the 2014 National
Census of Ferry Operators by the BTS will show a substantive expansion since then, Bernstein said. That report
is being finalized this winter for release next spring. In the
last survey, the highest ferry ridership was in the western
and northeastern United States.
Korean sinking raises awareness
Bernstein said the mid-April 2014 sinking of the MV Sewol ferry in South Korea was tragic and of great concern to
her as a marine professional. The disaster claimed 304 lives,
mostly secondary school students. We were asked several
times if an accident like this could happen in the United
States, she said, adding, We hope that it never does and
understand the importance of learning from the disaster. We
must remain vigilant and strive for continued improvement
in our emergency preparedness, particularly in crew training
and exercises and in communications with our passengers.
Overall, U.S. ferries have a long record of safe operations. The industry places systematic emphasis on sound
January 2015
12/22/2014 2:46:26 PM
vessels can cause the Coast Guard to take enforcement action, as it did in a couple of recent instances. This can
be disruptive to operations and may even make customers
think twice about riding our members vessels. And, in
this regard, the nations passenger vessel industry is one of
the most highly regulated to begin with.
The impact of marijuana legalization in some states on
crews has yet to be fully realized. Our crews must commit
to a drug-free workplace and also to drug-free off time,
she said. PVA has worked hard to reduce the mandatory,
random drug-testing rate from 50 percent to 25 percent,
implemented in early 2013. This has provided major savings in time and cost to the passenger vessel industry. Wed
hate to see an increase in positive test results and/or a need
to return to the 50-percent test rate because of legalization
in certain states.
Passenger vessels tend to have higher turnover because of
seasonal crew members, adding to recruitment and retention issues, she also said. Bernstein weighed in on another
matter known simply as rail jumping. We remind people at every opportunity that jumping off boats is illegal,
she said. It remains a problem for our industry. Enforcement lies with the Coast Guard, and we urge them to assist
us with this issue.
Federal regulations expand
Bernstein, meanwhile, is concerned about the onus of
federal rules on ferry operators. At every possible opportunity, PVA has spoken out about the need for the government and the Coast Guard to take into account the cumulative burden of regulatory mandates, she said. The
industry is in danger of being overloaded. We always put
safety first. But we find ourselves challenged by it, along
with other demands on our crew and resources, particularly during emergencies.
She pointed to the financial cost of compliance for small
businesses. In a study conducted for the Small Business
Administration, small firms faced a regulatory cost of
$10,585 per employee in 2008, she noted. Bernstein further insists, This was probably an understatement for the
comprehensively regulated passenger-vessel industry.
Bernstein also discussed marine casualty investigations.
The most frustrating aspects of the Coast Guards casualty investigation and reporting processes are its inconsistent application, inappropriate restriction of operations and
an outdated reporting form. She explains, Industry has
been waiting for Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular,
or NVIC, guidance from the Coast Guard for years, and
during that time operators have struggled with running a
MN 33
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34 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 3:10:24 PM
12/22/2014 3:11:54 PM
BOATBUILDING
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Ferries for Alaskas harsh conditions, built in Alaska by Alaskans.
Vigor and Elliott Bay Design Group team up for a winning
combination as the new Alaska Class Ferry Project takes shape.
By Sarah McCoy
36 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 3:12:10 PM
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BOATBUILDING
In the Seattle yard, were now on our second class for building ferries for them.
Theres a wonderful sort of momentum around building ferries. Again, now both
in Alaska and in Seattle, and were seeing a national interest and were becoming
known as ferry builders across the nation.
Joe Corvelli, Vigor Industrials Sr. Vice President of Fabrication and Sales
water and its pretty prone to weather conditions, as much
of Alaska is, said Vigors Adam Beck. Some of the big challenges that they deal with are not only the heavy seas, but
high winds and freezing spray, where the spray is coming
off of the ship, coming off of the bow. It tends to freeze on
contact. Beck continues, When they originally came out
with the smaller ship concept, the cars were just on an open
car deck. There was a lot of public concern that folks would
come out to get in their cars and the cars would be blocks
of ice. So the state went back and made a pretty significant
change and enclosed the car decks.
When weather turns nasty, the ferry system must consider what it calls Traveler Comfort. As part of the design
process, the ferry system and EBDG did wave-tank testing
of the hull design in Denmark. Miller of AHMS said that
the hull form was tested in Denmark at Force Technology.
Force worked with Elliot Bay Design Group to per38 MN
12/22/2014 3:12:59 PM
BOATBUILDING
Among other things, Vigor stretched out the construction timeline. Longer lead times will allow Vigor to charge
lower labor costs. While Vigor operates the shipyard, it is
actually owned by Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a public corporation created in 1967 by
the Alaska Legislature. Vigor acquired the right to operate the shipyard in 2012. The Vigor Alaska shipyard, the
people of Alaska, and its elected officials shared the same
goal of keeping tax payer dollars in the state and supporting family-wage jobs, said Beck.
Joe Corvelli, Vigor Industrials Sr. Vice President of Fabrication and Sales, said that Vigors experience building
ferries for the state of Washington helped it procure the
Alaska Class ferry contract. In the Seattle yard, were now
on our second class for building ferries for them. Theres
a wonderful sort of momentum around building ferries.
Again, now both in Alaska and in Seattle, and were seeing a national interest and were becoming known as ferry
builders across the nation.
The Ketchikan yard has a 130,000 square foot ship
production facility designed from the ground up to build
ships upwards of 500 feet in length. It includes an adjacent
five-story production center to minimize material flow and
maximize efficiency.
It rains 13 feet a year in Ketchikan. Beck said that the
shipyard has been upgraded so fortunately, much of the
work is now indoors. We actually experience very few
overall project delays due to weather. Again, by employing
MN 39
12/22/2014 3:13:24 PM
BOATBUILDING
The Russian tanker Renda transits through the Bering Sea with the Coast Guard Cutter Healys assistance. The Renda was carrying 1.3 million gallons of petroleum products for delivery to Nome.
resident Alaskans who are accustomed to working in extreme conditions, we are able to perform high quality ship
maintenance and repair work in Ketchikan, Seward, and
remote locations across Alaska. Our people have developed
a whole host of very unique production processes to overcome working in wet, windy, dark, and remote locations.
I would like to tell you what they are, but those are Vigors
competitive advantage for working in Alaska, Beck said.
The Ketchikan shipyard has already built to suit for the
unique challenges of Southeast Alaska. Back when it was
Alaska Ship and Drydock, the shipyard built the one-ofa-kind ice-capable M/V Susitna. The 194-foot Susitna
was built for about $75 million as a prototype for possible
use by the Navy. Beck emphasized that workers are multiskilled and cross-trained so that they can work steadily
all year. With the Alaska Class Ferry project, Vigors local
workforce will expand from 160 to about 250.
Alaskas Emerging Arctic Markets
Beck said that Vigor is looking ahead to more work in the
near future. Its the upcoming Arctic and whats known as
OCS, oil and gas exploration. We see both of those as a very
emerging market, repairing the ships that will be operating
in those areas. Particularly not just the Arctic in terms of
40 MN
12/22/2014 3:13:46 PM
Sea spray icing comes from lofting drops from the wind
and wave topsfrom cloud mist to large raindrops. Offshore
supply vessels, fishing trawlers and other commercial fishing
vessels, tugs and other work boats can be especially susceptible to icing because of their low freeboard, exposed deck
equipment, and their seakeeping characteristics in heavy
weather. Smaller vessels interact more vigorously with the
sea and thus create more spray and more icing, says Ryerson.
The problem exists on the ocean and on inland waters,
but there are differences between salt and fresh water icing.
For example, superstructure icing forms more rapidly in
the Great Lakes because it is fresh water freezing at a higher
temperature (0 deg C) than salt water (about -2 deg C).
Fresh water ice is much harder, denser and adheres to superstructures more strongly than saline ice, Ryerson says.
CRREL has studied various ways to prevent or remove
ice buildup and provide more stable ships and safer work
areas. Heated decks, coatings that cause ice to adhere less
strongly to surfaces, tarps and covers, pressure washers,
chemicals to loosen ice, expulsive systems, and inflatable
boots can work, but each technology must be tailored for
specific areas of the ship tolerant of that technology, explains Ryerson, adding, And, of course, avoidance.
Image above: The Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay breaks ice in the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
www.marinelink.com
MN 41
12/22/2014 3:13:55 PM
The Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay provides a direct assist to the motor vessel Presque Isle, which was stuck in ice just
below Winters Point Turn on the St. Marys River, just south of Neebish Island on December 13, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard
photo by Lt. j.g. Paul Junghans.
42 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 3:14:23 PM
Test Facilities
As the Coast Guard plans for an increased Arctic presence, it is looking at vessels that are not designed to break
ice but may be capable of operating in the presence of
brash ice. Tugs, work boats and small craft in fresh and
salt water environments in any maritime area with extreme
cold temperatures may find themselves slogging through
slush. The Arctic and extreme latitudes presents unique
challenges to USCG operations with cold temperatures,
a range of ice conditions, and a lack of infrastructure to
support small-craft operations. To best understand how
brash ice affects boat propulsion, CRREL engineers and
scientists have studied the range of operating conditions
for current craft, how to modify or improve current craft,
and how the next generation of craft may be more suited
to these cold operations.
Zabilansky says the CRRELs three ice engineering facilitiestest basin, flume and research areapermit a
wide range of environments to be created or simulated to
test systems in different conditions and validate computer
models to improve simulations. We use the test basin for
testing ice forces on structures, mobility, ship dynamics,
and the interaction of a structure in floating ice. The flume
is a rectangular river that is more for sediment transport
and frazil ice control, and the research area is a large refrigerated space for all kinds of icing studies. We can make and
blow all kinds of snow and freezing rain, Zabilansky says.
We try to replicate the freezing process and the physics
of the removal process. If you dont test for the right things
under the right conditions, the right type of ice forming
with the proper adhesion properties on the substrate, and
www.marinelink.com
12/22/2014 3:14:33 PM
44 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 3:16:00 PM
Target Markets
While the simulation center was funded by Bouchard
and features replica simulation models of the Bouchard
fleet and will serve to train and maintain Bouchard seamen, the center is first a critical resource for SUNY Maritime cadets. It is also open for business industry companies
and professionals. SUNY Maritime continues to invest in
the latest simulation technologies for its students and corporate clients. Not content to sit on their hands, SUNY
will augment the new center in early 2015 with a new
Engine room Simulation Center and a new Liquid Cargo
Handling System Simulator.
Morton Bouchard III sums up the effort nicely by insisting, Training and education is 200% more today. You cannot be profitable in this industry unless you are safe, he
said, adding You cannot be safe unless you train, but thats
not only in the simulator, its every day on these vessels. The
captains in our company are held to the highest standards to
be safe, and that is the only way that you can be profitable.
For SUNY Maritime, the first priority for simulator training focuses on Deck Cadets in the Towing Program seeking
Mate 1,600 Ton license for STCW Bridge Resource Management and boat handling skills. Externally, the simulator
MN 45
12/22/2014 3:16:13 PM
President and CEO of Bouchard Transportation, Morton S. Bouchard (second from left) joins (l. to r.) Morton
S. Bouchard IV, Congressman Joseph
Crowley (NY-14), SUNY Maritime President, Rear Adm. Michael A. Alfultis and
Brendan Bouchard at the ribbon-cutting
for the Bouchard Transportation Co.,
Inc. Tug & Barge Simulation Center located in historic Fort Schuyler on the
SUNY Maritime campus.
12/22/2014 3:23:30 PM
tion Co., Inc. Tug & Barge Simulation Center is just the
latest example of its generosity bestowed upon the SUNY
Maritime campus. For example, and in 2011, Mr. Bouchard established the Morton S. Bouchard Jr. Scholarship Program at SUNY Maritime in memory of his father.
Reflecting on the relationship, Bouchard III offered,
I am very proud of this investment, and yes, Bouchard
wheelhouse employees will do their required training at the
BOUCHARD TUG & BARGE SIMULATION CENTER. I believe anytime a company can make an investment
that will educate students and employees, and at the same
time make operations safer, it is an investment worth making. It will pay dividends in the future for all involved.
Eric Johansson took it a step further, saying, The
Bouchard investment with Maritime College is a testament
to Bouchards generosity true commitment to safety and
Maritime Colleges Commitment to the Towing Industry.
The Kongsberg Tug Barge Simulator is specifically built to
server the towing industry benefiting mariners from Cadet
www.marinelink.com
12/22/2014 3:23:42 PM
DECK EQUIPMENT
12/22/2014 3:24:00 PM
DECK EQUIPMENT
wires and wing wires, the Patterson line of S.A.R.Cs include all of the features a quality inland operator expects:
optimized sheave materials for both synthetic rope and
steel cable, rounded edges to minimize wear points, corrosion resistant construction utilizing stainless steel and protective coatings for extended life, and extreme durability.
Addressing the never-ending need for innovation and
increased safety within the inland marine industry, Patterson CEO David Grapes told MarineNews in December,
At Patterson we are constantly trying to help simplify our
customers processes through increased efficiency and safety. In regards to the Self Aligning Roller Chocks, we were
able to recognize, through working directly in the field
with customers, that current solutions were not meeting
their needs. With the transition to synthetic rope across
the industry and potential issues created by this, we dove
head first into the details of how the synthetic ropes are
utilized on vessels, and were able to engineer innovative
solutions to these issues that help solve both safety and
functionality problems inherent with previous products
and methods, while at the same time extend the life of the
customers high cost consumables.
Pattersons Self Adjusting Roller Chocks &
Roller Buttons
Until now, chocks could only align vertically. This helped
extend the life of the rope, but allowed for dangerous side
loading that could lead to permanent yielding of the product causing it to become non-functional, or worse, cause
catastrophic failure. With the Patterson Horizontal Alignment Mounting System, the S.A.R.C. becomes the first
truly self aligning design. The entire unit always orients
itself to the center of the line pull, both vertically and horizontally, regardless of the angle. In short, these units are
the ideal solution for fleeting boats that face many barges
that have different heights, deck fitting configurations, and
widths (one wide, two wide, four wide, etc.).
The S.A.R.C. is designed to functionally withstand the
maximum strength rating of new ropes properly sized for
the unit. What this means is that the rope is the weak point
SARC-65
SARC-40
SARC-20
65 tons
40 tons
30 tons
65,000 pounds
40,000 pounds
30,000 pounds
1-1/8
0.75
(*) (Rated Load) The total amount of continuous pull (load) allowed on the unit at any time.
www.marinelink.com
MN 49
12/22/2014 3:24:15 PM
DECK EQUIPMENT
Today, Patterson reports that it is already in full production with its S.A.R.C. and Roller Button equipment and
that units are in use by at least two major inland operators,
on the Mississippi/Ohio river corridor and in the Pacific
Northwest, in and around the Seattle area. Clearly, Patterson hopes that S.A.R.C. will fast become the new standard
for vessel facing deck fittings, in the same manner that the
YoYo gained widespread industry acceptance. The newest tool for all pushboat applications, including line-haul,
short-haul, and fleeting vessels is now here.
David Grapes summed up the situation for MarineNews
readers nicely, saying, We are optimistic that this product
will see wide scale adoption in the industry. Once a customer has had a chance to experience the benefits of this
new design, we think it will be the obvious choice for all
of their future new build and retrofit applications. Given
his success with the now universally accepted YoYo winch,
theres little reason to doubt him and every reason to hope
hes right.
Carbon steel sheave ideal for boats employing wire rope only.
50 MN
January 2015
12/22/2014 3:32:52 PM
VESSELS
Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), a leading naval architecture and marine engineering firm with offices in Seattle and Ketchikan, recently announced the delivery into
www.marinelink.com
12/22/2014 3:33:08 PM
Naugle
Hoppes
Socci
Higgins
Lerma
Gavin has been a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine
Engineers (SNAME) in the U.S. since
1983. The American Bureau of Shipping also named Gavin to their committee on small vessels.
InterAct has appointed Val Lerma,
P.E., as engineering manager. Lerma
has more than 30 years of experience
working with major and independent
oil and gas operators, both on and offshore. She has experience in drilling,
reservoir and production engineering
as well as management roles and will
enhance InterActs engineering capabilities. Lerma is on the Curriculum
Advisory Board for the University of
North Dakotas petroleum engineering department, is a member of the
local American Petroleum Institute
(API) Board and is a licensed professional petroleum engineer in the State
of California.
Crowley Maritime Corporations
Puerto Rico liner services group announced that Ken Orben is being
promoted to general manager of terminal operations in Jacksonville, Fla.,
and Karen Dempsey is being promoted to director of port operations
in Pennsauken, N.J. Orben, a 27-year
Crowley veteran will be responsible
for all aspects of land operations including line and staff functions, ocean
terminal and related container yard
and container freight station operations, stevedoring, yard, car, and
January 2015
12/22/2014 3:33:22 PM
Orben
Dempsey
Crowley USMMA
12/22/2014 11:56:32 AM
Nagle
Toohey
for LNG Fuel Ready Vessels to support members and clients in preparing
newbuildings for future conversion to
gas propulsion. The Guide formalizes the process for clients who wish
to plan for conversion to LNG fuel at
a future date by providing a detailed
review and approval and an associated
class notation. The Guide includes a
basic level of Concept Design Approval, with a design review for approval
in principle (AIP), and two optional
levels for general design approval and
installed equipment, which constitute
a complete review and survey of the
system to be installed on the ship. The
first optional level is a General Design
Review that allows an owner to approach a shipyard with a reviewed design package for the gas-fueled system
at the time of conversion.
The second optional level is Detail Design Approval and Installation
which constitutes a complete design
review and survey of a system that will
be installed on the LNG ready ship in
accordance with the ABS Guide for
Propulsion and Auxiliary Systems for
Gas Fueled Ships.
WCI Praises Increase to
Barge Diesel Fuel User Fee
Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI)
and its members and stakeholders last
month applauded the Senates passage, by a vote of 76 to16, of a 9-cent
12/22/2014 3:33:45 PM
Bollinger Drydock
Bouchard Transportation
Wins Environmental
Achievement Awards
Forty-three Bouchard Transportation
Co., Inc. vessels have been honored by
The Chamber of Shipping America
(CSA) with Certificates of Environmental Achievement. The awards, given
out in mid-November, recognize vessels
that have operated for two full years or
more without an environmental incident. In total, the 43 vessels achieved
the equivalent of 601 years without incident. Twenty-four of the honored vessels have gone without environmental
incident for 10 or more years.
Bollinger Adds 12,000 Tons
of Dry Dock Lifting Power
Bollinger has augmented its net lifting power by another 12,000 tons with
the additions of two new dry-docks.
The docks will position Bollinger for
its diverse markets and further enhance its capacity at two locations.
Terms and conditions of the purchase
were not made available. One of the
docks, a 10,500 ton dry-dock will be
located at the Bollinger Port Fourchon
facility, and measures 320-ft. x 100-ft.
between the wing walls. Bollinger now
has three commercial dry-docks located in Fourchon with a combined lifting capacity of over 22,000 tons. The
second dock, a 1,500 ton dry-dock
will be located at the Bollinger Quick
MN 55
12/22/2014 3:33:55 PM
Busch
in Middletown, Rhode Island and ClassNK, a ship classification society based in Tokyo, Japan last month signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) laying out a
framework for future technical cooperation to carry out
joint research and development activities for the maritime
industry. This will mark the first time a major ship classification society has teamed with a prominent marine operations simulation center engaged in specialized training
and research in North America. Our goal is to support
the safety of ships from not only from the technological
point of view, but also the human factor perspective.
said ClassNK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara.
USMRC President Brian Holden added, ClassNK shares
our goal of engaging in activities that focus on the safety
of mariners; ships and their cargoes; and protection of the
marine environment.
Crowley Wins T-AGOS/T-AGM MSC Contract
Crowley Maritime Corp.s global ship management
group has been has been awarded the contract for the operation and maintenance of the T-AGOS/T-AGM fleet for
the Military Sealift Command. This fleet of seven ships supports the Navys Surveillance Towed Array Sensor Systems
(SURTASS) operations; the U.S. Air Forces dual-band,
phased array and parabolic dish radars; and other government research missions. The contract covers the operation
and maintenance of five T-AGOS and up to two T-AGM
ocean surveillance ships. Crowley will provide personnel;
operational and technical support (ashore and afloat);
equipment; tools; provisions, and supplies to operate this
fleet of seven United States Naval Ships (USNS). The issuance of this contract is well-matched with Crowleys capabilities, not only in the companys ability to manage specialized vessels, but also in providing the U.S. Government
with a variety of maritime services, said Todd Busch, senior vice president and general manager, technical services.
56 MN
January 2015
12/23/2014 10:03:13 AM
PRODUCTS
Markey Machinery Winches
Founded in 1907, Markey Machinery is a designer and manufacturer
of high quality custom deck machinery for workboat, scientific,
and dockside applications. Built for
the long haul every time, Hell-forStout is a term often heard when
describing Markey equipment.
Markeys experienced engineering
and manufacturing staff is up to the
toughest challenges and can readily
assist with any custom projects and
special applications.
www.markeymachinery.com
JK Fabrication Deck
Equipment
J.K. Fabrication, Inc. manufactures
hydraulic marine deck equipment
in Seattle WA. Products range from
commercial fishing equipment, anchor and research winches for all
vessels. The firm has expanded its
footprint into hose storage reels
for petroleum platforms as well as
emergency towlines storage reels for
retrieval of ocean going barges. The
towline storage reel is a proven means
of saving a loose ocean going barge.
www.jkfabrication.com
www.jdngroup.com
Braemars FSP-LNG
Containment System
Braemar LNG BV has signed an
agreement with NASSCO to utilize
its patents in the design and construction of FSP LNG Containment
systems. The FSP system - a new
flat-panel, semi-membrane, prismatic-shaped LNG tank-containment
system Type B - uses new flat plate
technology to overcome partial filling and sloshing issues. Approval in
Principle has been obtained from
Lloyds Register (LR) and ABS.
www.cohereit.com/braemar/braemarlng.avi
Ice-strengthened research
vessel Gets Ecospeed
Protection
The bow area of the underwater hull
of Royal Research Ship James Clark
Ross was coated with Ecospeed. The
ship is one of two ice-strengthened
research vessels operated by British
Antarctic Survey (BAS). Ecospeed is
not only the best solutions available
for underwater hulls of icebreakers
and ice-going vessels, the coating
also provides excellent hull performance and is the easiest ice-going
paint to apply and maintain.
www.ecospeed.be
www.marinelink.com
MN 57
12/22/2014 3:34:20 PM
PRODUCTS
Trelleborg Rubber
compound Tug Fenders
Trelleborgs marine systems operation
has launched a new High Performance
Super Abrasion Resistant (HPSAR)
tug fender, which utilizes an innovative, superior rubber compound. The
application of this distinctive and
improved compound not only significantly increases the service life of
the fender, but also gives the fender
a lower density than traditional solutions, contributing to reduced weight
and increasing potential savings.
www.trelleborg.com/Marine-Systems/
www.zf.com
www.hooversolutions.com
www.hellamarine.com
www.tpgmarine.com
58 MN
December 2014
12/22/2014 3:34:35 PM
PRODUCTS
Miller Welders:
Big Capabilities,
Small Package
Designed to withstand harsh environments, the Dimension 650 multiprocess welder from Miller Electric
Mfg. offers a combination of durability, output, efficiency and capability in a smaller, easier-to-handle
package. The Dimension 650 provides power-intensive output for
heavy welding, carbon-arc gouging,
and precision arc characteristics designed for thin-metal welding. The
Dimension 650 features high electrical efficiency
that allows for
more welding
using 32 percent less power.
www.millerwelds.com
Marine Polymers
Changing Industry
Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube are
reshaping the commercial ship bushing market. Thermoplastics offer performance superior to nylon or bronze,
with lower life cycle maintenance and
operational costs. Applications include deck cranes, grabs, hatch covers, rudders, sheaves, stern rollers,
stern tubes and more. It performs in
the dirtiest of conditions and is ideal
in settings where maintenance is difficult and a long service life is required
www.vesconite.com
Electric Dustmaster
from MARCO
Dust control on a work site is a challenge, no matter what size the job is.
The Marco manufactured Dustmaster 8,000 CFM Electric Dust Collector moves more air when compared
to other units its size. The first Electric Dust Collector in the Dustmaster line, the 8,000 CFM Electric
Dust Collector is powered with a
24 HP 460 volt motor. All units are
available for purchase, lease or rent.
www.marco.us
www.mtu-online.com
www.marinelink.com
MN 59
12/22/2014 3:34:47 PM
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