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from Warren Alexander in Fairhaven,

MA. • Manisee: The Manisee is a 110’ former

Block Island vehicle ferry under charter from Bowditch Boat Holdings of Row- ley, MA. The Manisee has been con- verted by BHC from a day vehicle/passenger ferry to a mini sup- ply/stand-by vessel which has performed a number of dive and support services to the Northeast Gateway project. The ves- sel features a working deck of 90 x 25- ft., and accommodations for a crew of four. • Matthew J Hughes: The Matthew J

Hughes was built in 1990 by the Steiner

Shipyard of Bayou LaBatre, AL as a 114- ft., 350 passenger ferry for the Deer Is- land project, and in later years as a commuter boat for the Hingham to

Boston service. In October of 2009,

BHC hired the naval architectural firm of

John W. Gilbert to redesign the vessel for conversion to a crewboat. Work is near- ing completion, and the Matthew J

Hughes conversion should be completed by mid November. BHC’s maintenance division is carrying out the conversion and improvements.

Bunker Hill: The Bunker Hill is a 42-ft.

Breaux Bay Craft crewboat built in 1982 and purchased by BHC in 1987 to pro- vide commuter boat services between

Charlestown and downtown Boston. The boat has been used extensively over the past five years in support of contractors building the off shore LNG terminals, and in providing security for the North- east Gateway after it’s opening in 2008.

What has been the biggest challenge in establishing your company in this new line of work?

In reality, we have not faced many chal- lenges, because we started this division in a secure contract with a very compe- tent client who has been supportive and easy to work with. Many of the projects that we undertake with Excelerate Energy includes heavy involvement, and support from their management team here in

Massachusetts and in Texas. The com- munications and collaboration between the Excelerate and BHC management teams and the vessel crews have pro- duced a very effective and safe operation.

Operating in the northeastern United

States offshore in all types of weather can naturally be challenging, but because our clients management team is almost all former deep sea Masters and former

Coast Guard officers, the primary focus on operations has always been to put safety first.

They know first-hand what is practical and safe and consult the vessels masters and crews on a regular basis regarding limits on safe operations.

I think we were very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with them as our first major client in this division.

November 2010 www.marinelink.com 53

Naturally, we are hoping to expand into the offshore support services industry, es- pecially here in the northeast.

Rick Nolan