Workboat articles from April 2009

Workboat archives from April 2009

The Delta Queen is not a traditional passenger boat.(Mail Bag)
April 1, 2009... I like tradition and preserving worthy traditional objects. Unfortunately, the Delta Queen has no relationship to anything traditional about passenger steamship service on the Mississippi River. The old firetrap tub was built in Scotland as...

On the water: man overboard while towing astern--part I.(At A Glance)
April 1, 2009... There's another important aspect of the 2006 sinking of the tug Valour that deserves more scrutiny: the best course of action to take when a man overboard (MOB) occurs while towing astern, which I consider an extreme situation. ...

WorkBoat Composite Index: index loses another 16 percent.(At A Glance)
April 1, 2009... After losing 14 percent in January, the WorkBoat Composite Index got hammered again in February, losing 139 points. The loss of over 16 percent hit every Index issue but one, as losers topped gainers 35-1. The lone winner for the month was...

OSV day rates: rig count continues to drop.(At A Glance)
April 1, 2009... U.S. Gulf of Mexico rig utilization stood at just under 67 percent at the end of February with 79 rigs contracted. That compares with 72.3 percent at the end of January when 86 rigs were under contract--a net decrease of seven contracted rigs...

Shipyards receive boost under stimulus package.(NEWS LOG)
April 1, 2009... An assistance program for small shipyard owners established last year has received a big boost from the recent federal stimulus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Maritime Administration's small shipyard grant program received about $10...

OSG to move newbuild work away from Bender.(NEWS LOG)
April 1, 2009... OSG America LP said it was negotiating with Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. Inc. to end construction agreements that originally called for the Mobile, Ala., yard to build six articulated tug-barge units and two tugs. Citing "repeated...

New tug exhibit opens in New York.(NEWS BITTS)
April 1, 2009... It could be called the "Everything You Wanted to Know about New York Tugboats" exhibit. With the replica of a 19th century tug wheelhouse, paintings, photographs, fine prints and murals, tug models, and maps showing tug loading and unloading...

First state: on the Delaware, tugs and petroleum transport are king.(In Business)
April 1, 2009... The Delaware River winds it way down 360 miles from the Catskill Mountains in New York and flows into the estuarial Delaware Bay some 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Oil is the name of the game on the Delaware....

Blount Boats completes ferry for Shelter Island, N.Y.(ON THE WAYS)
April 1, 2009... In mid-February, the 101'x39' passenger/vehicle ferry Southside left Blount Boats in Warren, R.I., for Shelter Island, N.Y. Once there, the ferry was put into service on a half-mile run for South Ferry between Shelter Island and the South Fork...

Island Boats delivers first of two to Southern States.(ON THE WAYS)
April 1, 2009... In early March, Jeanerette, La.-based Island Boats Inc. was putting the finishing touches on the Southern Belle, the first of two 168'x32'x10' aluminum crewboats for Southern States Offshore Inc., Houston. Delivery was scheduled for later in...

Boatbuilding bitts.(ON THE WAYS)
April 1, 2009... On the New Orleans riverfront in early March, Blessey Marine Services Inc. christened its latest towboat, the 2,000-hp Alton St. Amant. Built by Sneed Shipbuilding Inc., Channelview, Texas, the 87' x 30'x l1!6" boat is powered by a pair of...

River rage: inland barge companies prepare for a rough road ahead.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2009... The boom times may be over for the inland waterways industry. The nation's recession has begun to affect the inland barge industry. After several years of robust demand for barge bottoms, traffic on the river system in several key commodities...

Hybrid hauler: Hornblower's new ferry is more than just a nice ride.(Boats & Gear)
April 1, 2009... With the recent push to conserve energy and "go green," it's not surprising that hybrid power is becoming very fashionable. What is surprising, however, is the speed in which the marine industry is embracing the new technology. ...

Power supply: big winches continue to evolve.(Boats & Gear)
April 1, 2009... The Carolyn Dorothy, Foss Maritime Co.'s new hybrid tug, relies on a large bank of lead-acid batteries as an integral part of its power supply. The batteries can be recharged by shore power, onboard diesel generators, motor/generators turned by...

Marine generator.(WB Products)
April 1, 2009... Seattle-based Northern Lights has introduced the M944T generator, which puts out 38 kw at 60 hz or 32 kw at 50 hz. It is built on a heavy-duty industrial engine block and custom marinized and engineered for optimal marine performance. The M944T...

Multipurpose welder.(WB Products)
April 1, 2009... ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, Florence, S.C., is marketing the MTS 3500i, its new multipurpose welder in its X-Series line. The new welding machine was designed as a multiprocess, fourth-generation inverter power source that combines...

Barge Pump.(WB Products)
April 1, 2009... Stewart & Stevenson's new C1D1-60 Barge Pump Power Package recently received FM Global certification for operation in hazardous locations. Inland tank barges that transport combustible cargoes now have an electronically controlled diesel-engine...

Graphite paint.(WB Products)
April 1, 2009... A new paint from Dylon Industries, Cleveland, leaves a coating of pure graphite on any surface, according to the company. The Dylon Grade AE, a dried graphite coating, is lubricious, doesn't attract dirt, won't melt at any temperature, and has...