Page 45: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1999)

BIG GREEN

Going ...

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Every bad weld exposed itself by popping, and once the hull was reset on blocks, it began to sag.

Top quality steering • Maximum manoeuvrability

A. van der Velden bvA Rotterdam have been assembled."

Nevertheless, the boat still was not ready for the water, nor would it ever be.

By September, the USCG noticed cor- rection marks made by its inspectors were being removed as soon as they left the shop. In a Sept. 10, 1997 "Letter of

Concern" it wrote: "We are writing this letter to express our continued concern regarding the construction and certifica- tion of Klondike Express. We have repeatedly identified excessive weld- ing/fabrication defects in those areas presented for inspection. The markups made by several marine inspectors dur- ing structural inspections have been removed prior to their completion of the inspection. Such markings are to remain in place until the structure/welding has been fully approved by the attending marine inspector."

While Johnston paid little attention to

USCG law he couldn't get by the Law of

Gravity. As the double hull had been started upside down it eventually had to (Continued on page 47)

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Promise of an "advanced aluminum welding technique" resulted in the $4.2-million

Klondike Express being sold for $24,000 in scrap. control program. No one seemed in charge of the project, or at best, a differ- ent person was in charge during each

USCG visit. Inspectors found them- selves looking at every individual weld - and condemning most of them.

By April they were issuing "Letters of

Concern" to Johnston, but to little avail.

The man appeared more interested in expanding his holdings at Port

Townsend through dealings with the local port commission than in complet- ing Klondike Express.

As the May launch date rolled around the USCG was getting upset with

Johnston. On May 13, 1997, it sent the following note: "This is intended to reemphasize our concerns regarding construction of Klondike Express. To date no plans have been approved by the

USCG for this vessel, yet most of the vessel's twin hull and bridging structure

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ELECTRONIC MARINE

SYSTEMS, INC. 800 Ferndale Place

Rahway, NJ 07065

A. van der Velden B.V.,

P.O. Box 2061 2930 AB Krimpen a/d Lek

The Netherlands

Tel.: +31(0)180 511577

Fax: +31(0)180 511578

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet: www.vdvelden.nl

Agent for the U.S.A.

Ships Machinery International Inc. 8357 N.W. 56 Street

Miami FL 33166 USA

Tel.: (+1)305 592 7350

Fax: (+1) 305 591 8223

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet: www.shipmachinery.com