Page 64: of Marine News Magazine (May 2014)

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VESSELS

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering company

Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) announced that the christening ceremony for the Oceanographic Research

Vessel AGOR 27, named in honor of the famed Neil Arm- strong, was held at Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) in

Anacortes, WA, on March 29, 2014. The 238 foot, state of the art oceanographic research vessel provides unprec- edented opportunities for larger, interdisciplinary science teams of up to 25 members, utilizing highly developed research equipment and will replace aging Intermediate

Class ships. Both the R/V Neil Armstrong and sister vessel

AGOR 28 R/V Sally Ride, also well under way at DCI, have the capability of carrying suffi cient supplies and sup- port systems to stay at sea for up to 40 days, covering up to 10,000 nautical miles and withstanding high sea and wind conditions. Some advanced features include acous- tic navigation and tracking systems that operate at various depths, a specially designed hull diverting bubbles from the sonar area, a state of the art suite of over the side han- dling systems with enhance remote operation capability and dual controllable propellers with variable speed mo- tors for increased effi ciency. Upon delivery in late 2014, the vessel will be operated by WHOI, supporting scientists with ongoing research worldwide, including in the Atlan- tic, Western Pacifi c and Indian Ocean regions in a wide variety of missions. AGOR 28 R/V Sally Ride, to be man- aged by Scripps Institute of Oceanography under charter party agreements with ONR, will soon follow after with an expected delivery in early 2015.

Over the years, Rodriguez Shipbuilding Inc, of Bayou

LaBatre Alabama has probably delivered more shallow- draft tugs than any other US-yard. Their signature lugger- type tug design, with its distinctive aft cabin and wheel- house, has a strong following amongst U.S. Gulf Coast operators servicing near shore petro-operations. But they also built to a variety of designs. This March, the yard de- livered a 75 x 28-foot model bow tug to Morgan City-based

Garber Bros. Inc. and Sea Cypress LLC. The housework is built forward on the beamy hull, but it is what is below the water line that will matter to the owner and charterers.

The boat has a total of nearly 2000 HP generated by three 660-HP six-cylinder Cummins QSK19 marine engines each turning a propeller through Twin Disc MGX5222 gears with 6:1 ratios. The triple screw confi guration allows the design to maintain a shallow ten-foot moulded depth and, depending on load conditions, operate in as little as eight feet of water. Named the Sea Cypress, the new boat is built to a design by yard owner Joseph Rodriguez It is a near sister to the Sea Oak delivered to Garber Bros. in 2007. Set up for both towing and pushing, the tug is fi t- ted with SMATCO deck equipment including a waterfall type winch for anchor handling or towing. The stern deck winch also allows the versatile tug to make up to barges for pushing by way of a bridle running through stern deck rollers and side deck rollers.

Christening Ceremony Held for R/V Neil Armstrong

Rodriguez Shipbuilding

Triple Screw, Shallow Draft – and Prolifi c

Fuel: 37,000 gallons Accommodation: six crewmembers Lube Oil: 300 gallons

Water: 6,700 gallons Propulsion: (3) 660-HP six-cylinder Cummins QSK19 Electrical: (2) 45 kW gensets

At a glance …

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