Several factors are driving innovation in marine shipbuilding, with among the most important ones being the Clean Air Act and subsequent EPA and CARB regulations. In some cases, standards were set before the technology to meet those goals could be developed. Another factor is the need for high-speed vessels with novel missions, such as in wind farm development. This article looks at recent and upcoming propulsion systems within the context of a sampling of new vessels. San Francisco Bar Pilot Boat, Designer: Camarc Design, UK, Builder: Snow & Company, Seattle WA Snow & Company, Inc. of Seattle, Wash. is currently…
As data from the Saildrone Surveyor was still being mapped after her maiden voyage from San Francisco to Honolulu, owners of the uncrewed, autonomous vessel powered primarily by renewable wind and solar energy were already planning a fleet of Surveyors to map the world. “This successful maiden voyage marks a revolution in our ability to understand our planet,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and chief executive officer. “We have solved the challenge of reliable long-range, large-payload remote maritime operations. Offshore survey can now be accomplished without a large ship and crew.” The 72-foot long, 14-ton Surveyor arrived in Honolulu on…
As the rest of the world becomes more and more dependent upon technology, so does the maritime industry. All kinds of gadgets, from smartphones to tablets to apps have enhanced the way the industry operates. But there’s also a dark side to this, as criminals have learned how to exploit technology to their benefit. Things such as ransomware, spyware, phishing and computer viruses are all issues that companies big and small that use various forms of technology occasionally have to deal with. Realizing this, and in a continual effort to serve the needs of our readers, this issue of Pacific…
BAE Systems has received a $90.2 million contract from the U.S. Navy for the maintenance and modernization of the amphibious transport dock USS San Diego (LPD 22) at the company’s San Diego shipyard. The value of the contract could reach $104.8 million if all options are exercised, according to the Navy. Under the docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) contract, BAE Systems will drydock the 684-foot-long ship, perform work on the underwater hull, repair its system of ballast tanks, preserve its amphibious well deck area, and refurbish the living quarters for the as many as 800 sailors and Marines that can…

Seaspan Shipyards says it is committing a $1.35 million investment to increase training and apprenticeship opportunities for Indigenous students aged 19 through 30 interested in building a career in the trades, including in the growing shipbuilding and marine sector. The three-year investment is being made in the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS), a non-profit organization that has been providing education and employment training for the urban Indigenous community since 1999. Seaspan’s investment, which was announced in June, supports skills upgrading and technical training in welding and metal fabrication through the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Beginning in…
On July 19, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Serenade of the Seas kicked off the summer season when it departed for Alaska as part of the first of a series of seven-night cruises from its home port of Seattle. The sailing marked a celebratory moment for the cruise industry, local workforce, regional suppliers and Alaska communities that were significantly impacted by the absence of all cruise tourism, which normally represents more than 60% of the state’s visitors and generates upwards of $3 billion for its economy each year. “Cruising in Alaska is finally back, and we are excited to be…

The Federal Maritime Commission has established a new audit program and dedicated audit team to assess carrier compliance with the agency’s rule on detention and demurrage as well as to provide additional information beneficial to the regular monitoring of the marketplace for ocean cargo services. The “Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Audit Program” was established July 19 at the direction of FMC Chair Daniel B. Maffei and launched immediately. The audit program will, according to the Commission, analyze the top nine carriers by market share for compliance with FMC rules relating to detention and demurrage practices in the United States. The Commission…
Freeland, Wash.-based Nichols Brothers Boat Builders has delivered the fourth ASD-90 tractor tug in a four-vessel series to Seattle-headquartered Foss Maritime, NBBB has revealed. NBBB completed and delivered the four-vessel build series—the m/v Jamie Ann, m/v Sarah Avrick, m/v Leisa Florence, and lastly, the m/v Rachael Allen—during the period between April 2020 and June 2021. Two vessels are to be stationed in Los Angeles/Long Beach, while the other two will be in the San Francisco Bay providing escort and assist services to large tankers and containerships calling on the California ports. The ASD-90 Class tugs were designed by Seattle-based Jensen…
By Guthrie Scrimgeour Port operators in the Pacific Northwest have set a goal to eliminate shipping-related emissions throughout the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound waterway by 2050. The effort involves the Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, Northwest Seaport Alliance container terminals, and the Port of Vancouver. The governing bodies of these four organizations in April formally approved the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy 2020, which builds on an earlier clean air plan enacted in 2008. The updated document calls on the ports to voluntarily reduce air and greenhouse gas emissions in support of the 2050 emissions goal. More detailed port-specific plans…
By Gordon Feller An important case study published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is focused on the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The research aimed to assess their community engagement on reducing emissions and setting a goal of zero-emissions for trucks and cargo equipment at the ports. It also examined what impact their activities could have with regard to encouraging other ports to follow suit. “The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have taken important steps to work with local stakeholders in the community to reduce diesel emissions. They should be applauded for those efforts,” Congresswoman…