NEWS
Modular Construction at Intracoastal Marine
Louisiana shipyards are famous for launching boats from basic facilities. Raymond Viguerie's Intracoastal Marine is a good example. His yard near Bourg, La. relies on good people like yard manager Joey Portier to keep the several boats building at any given time moving along to schedule. An important part of keeping to the schedule is the use of modular construction. While working with a small crew, the yard has been able to build the M/V Alexandra Danos with efficiency and a minimum of time spent climbing in and out of the hull. The 140 x 34-ft. mini-supply vessel was fabricated in three modules. One module was for the raised focsle and superstructure, another for the forward hull and the third for the aft hull. The Alexandra Danos, with a depth of 12 ft. and a loaded draft of 10 ft. is being built for GOL (Gulf Offshore Logistics) LLC. Main engines are a pair of six-cylinder Cummins KTA19 each delivering 640 hp at 1800 RPM into TwinDisc 5170 5:1 gears. The bow thruster is powered by a 330 hp Cummins QSL9 and the boat is fitted with a pair of 75 kW Cummins 6BTApowered gen sets. It will have an 84 x 27-ft. clear deck for cargo. The tankage will include 130,808 gallons for rig water, 14,244 for potable water and 46,147 gallons for fuel. The M/V Alexandra Danos will be DP1 equipped and will provide accommodation for 16 people.
JOHN W. GILBERT ASSOCIATES, INC.
NAVAL ARCHITECTS & MARINE ENGINEERS
75 Sgt. William Terry Drive Hingham, MA 02043 PHONE: (781) 740-8193 FAX: (781) 740-8197 EMAIL: INFO@JWGAINC.COM WEBSITE: WWW.JWGAINC.COM DESIGN AND CONSULTING SERVICES FOR ALL VESSEL TYPES
Northrop Grumman, ACB Develop Boat Concept
The test bed for a new concept in military combat river craft, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation in partnership with Aluminum Chambered Boats, Inc. (ACB), splashed into Bellingham Bay in Washington recently, initiating its in-water evaluation. The Riverine experimental boat -- named Joint Multimission Expeditionary Craft -- integrates Northrop Grumman's leading-edge navigation, surveillance, network and command and control systems into an innovative, tactical-class hull form designed and built by ACB. ACB's design is 41 ft. long with a 9 x 11-in. beam and a draft of 28 in. Powered by two Cummins QSC 8.3-liter, 540 hp has a top speed of 48 miles per hour. With a crew of four, the new boat has room for another two observers and, depending on the mission, can also ferry a 14-member combat team or various cargoes up rivers or streams.
16 � MarineNews � June, 2007