New Vessel & Tug Review

New Vessels and Tugboats Round-Up: The Pacific Northwest Leaves Its Mark

Cascadian commercial vessel designers and boatbuilders are busy serving the needs of the industry. The Pacific Northwest is a hotbed of maritime talent, both behind the naval design desk and in the boatyard. Herein is a glance at several notable recent and ongoing vessel projects with roots in Cascadian companies. From small but mighty ice-proofed tugboats and cutting-edge research vessels to innovative multi-hulls and hybrid-electric commercial ferries, our region leaves its mark. All American Marine All American Marine (AAM), based in Bellingham, Wash., has a specialty—aluminum boat building and multihull designs. The company is the exclusive North American builder with…

New Vessels and Tugboats: Technology, Environmental Awareness Tops Agenda

While the U.S. shipbuilding industry has diminished over the past few decades, some are still welding, riveting and brainstorming to fill the oceans and waterways with pleasure boats and enormous freighters that can drift by in relative silence. But before the actual hands-on labor can begin, concepts and designs are created on paper and computer screens. Shipwrights and designers alike are no longer mainly focused on churning out what’s “tried and true.” As the 21st century presses on, maritime vessel designers are becoming more attuned to specific needs and global technology, all while trying to minimize their impact on our…

By Peter Marsh Munson Builds High-Speed Skimmer for Oil Spill Contractor Located 400 miles north of Fairbanks on Alaska’s north slope, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska is home to the largest oil field in North America. The regional oil spill response contractor, Alaska Clean Seas, maintains about 60 miles of oil containment boom and more than 100 specialized response vessels. The latest of these vessels is the 48-foot x 16-foot Pt. McIntyre, a Munson purpose-built oil aluminum skimmer designed to operate in the harsh environment above the Arctic Circle. It is based on a standard landing craft hull that company founder Bill…