Page 6: of Marine News Magazine (August 2005)

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able RIB. Other changes included a new superstructure, built by Bollinger's joint venture partner, VT Halter Marine,

Pascagoula, Miss. A complete new com- mand and control system was integrated into the pilothouse.

The Matagorda developed problems shortly after being recommissioned and since then four of the eight of the vessels that had the upgrades developed subse- quent problems. "Rather than fixing these vessels at a cost of $8 million to $10 million each, the

Coast Guard said it would rather put that money into new platforms that would meet their new mission," said T.R.Ham- blin, vice president of government pro- grams for Bollinger.

The decision to cancel the program was not a reflection on Bollinger, according to

Margaret Mitchell Jones, spokesperson for Integrated Coast Guard Systems, the

Joint venture between Lockeed Martin and Northrop Grumman that is responsi- ble for the entire $24 billion Deepwater program to enhance the Coast Guard land, sea and air assets. "I think that Bollinger did some very good work on the program and it was more a case of these boats being better on the inside than on the outside since the core structure is almost 20 year sold,"

Jones said.

As a result Integrated Coast Guard Sys- tems has put the design and construction of the replacement vessel on the fast track that will result in the first vessel joining the fleet in 2007 instead of 2017.

The cancellation of the contract will not result in layoffs at Bollinger. " The 175 to 200 people that would have worked on these vessels will be rotated to other pro- jects, so we are not laying off," Hamlin added.

In an ironic way the cancellation of this contract may benefit Bollinger in that they may be involved in the contract for the replacement boat, now scheduled to hap- pen 10 years earlier than anticipated.

About 58 of these new fast-response patrol boats with a composite hull will be built at a cost of $40 million each.

Breaking Ground on $3.5M Shipyard

As part of its continuing plans for diver- sification and expansion The Great Lakes

Towing Company, a 106-year old tug company, now a multi-faceted marine transportation and ship and boat repair business, will construct a new $3,500,000 headquarters building and state-of-the-art shipyard complex on its present six-acre deep waterfront property in the Old River

Channel of the Cuyahoga River in Cleve- land, Ohio.

Located at the foot of West 45th Street on Division Avenue, the new facilities will incorporate fabrication, welding and diesel shops to include new technologies.

The 40 ft.-high fabrication building will be equipped with a 10-ton overhead crane that will travel the entire 150 ft.length of the building, and its 30 ft. high by 40 ft. hanger door will permit indoor barge and tug construction and repairs. Major new yard equipment includes a specially designed service truck outfitted as a "mini-shipyard" complete with welding equipment, compressed air, generator, and a crane which is ideal for off-site vessel repairs. With completion of the office and fabrication buildings, and the construction of new dock bulkheading, including an excavated boat slip in the spring of 2006, follow-on plans call for the installation of a 500-ton travel lift to complement the

Company's drydock and to permit simul- taneous repair of multiple boats and 6• MarineNews • August, 2005

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Circle 239 on Reader Service Card

Moose Boats, an aluminum boat manu- facturer, has been awarded a contract from the Los Angeles County Sheriff,

Marina del Rey, for a Moose 320C Cata- maran Jet Boat. This is a 37ft. all alu- minum jet powered catamaran with twin

Cummins 380 hp turbo diesels, propelled by Hamilton 292 water jets. This vessel can attain a top speed of over 35 knots, cruise at approximately 28 knots, come to a full-speed stop in less than two boat lengths. Its 21 in. draft will allow all of this to be done in less than three ft. of water.

The craft is fully equipped for law enforcement, search and rescue efforts and fire fighting capabilities.

The mission of this vessel is to provide

Marina del Rey Sheriff's Harbor Patrol a quick response vessel for marine emer- gencies. Marina del Rey is homeport to approximately 5,500 boats. The Harbor

Patrol detail is responsible for law enforcement on the water and on the docks. Part of the detail's job is education and crime prevention, with typical calls for service range from enforcement stops for boating law or safety violations to open water rescue and medical emergen- cies. In the past, the Marina harbor patrol detail has responded as first responders to incidents such as airplane crashes, numer- ous boat fires and explosions, cars in the water and capsized vessels. This vessel will also be utilized as a dive platform for underwater rescues and recoveries.

Circle 11 on Reader Service Card

Moose Awarded Contract

Specifications

LOA 34 ft.

Beam: 14 ft.

Draft (Max) 21in.

Dead Rise (Aft) 15 degrees

Displacement: 15,600 lbs. (dry)

Fuel Tank 300 Gal.

Engines Twin QSB5.9 Cummins Turbo Diesels

Water Jets Twin Hamilton HJ 292

Marine Gear Twin Disc MG 5075

Max Speed Over 35 knots

Cruise Speed Approx. 28 knots

Range Over 300 nm

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