Page 34: of Marine News Magazine (October 2024)

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Feature

Repair & Conversion moy. The third OSV, to be renamed Barnstable, entered Upon arrival to Alabama Shipyard in August, the OSV the yard in August to of? cially commence its planned was transferred to land, enabling initial work to begin.

11-month conversion journey. “The vessel will undergo signi? cant modi? cations,

Built by Atlantic Marine, Inc. in Jacksonville, Fla. in starting with the removal of a 24-foot midbody section to 2008, the vessel is 240 feet long and 54 feet wide in its shorten its length,” Schnoor said. “It will then be length- current state, offering a substantial platform for its new ened with the addition of a stern deck extension to align role as a passenger and freight ferry, said Ryan Schnoor, with existing ferry landings.” senior project manager at Alabama Shipyard. The result will be a vessel that is about 14 feet longer “Its original design and ample deck space are ideal for its and 10 feet wider; its ? nal dimensions will be 245 feet in conversion into a ferry,” Schnoor said. “The existing infra- length and 64 feet in breadth. The vessel will also be ? t- structure provides a solid foundation for modi? cation and ted with deck sponsons on both port and starboard sides the vessel’s ? at aft deck makes it suitable to accommodate for the accommodation of seven lanes of vehicles, and its a range of vehicles and passengers.” public lounge area will be redesigned to include restrooms

Alabama Shipyard, in Mobile, is a full- service ship repair facility serving both commercial and government customers. The yard features a 787- by 164-foot ? oating dry-dock,

DD Alabama— one of the largest in the U.S.—and ? ve pier locations to accommodate vessels up to 1,000 feet in length.

All photos courtesy Alabama Shipyard 34 | MN October 2024