Marine Log - June 2008 - (Page 66)

ICE CLASS TANKERS overall weight reduction and a 35% increase in cavitation margin. It comes with a 1,500 mm diameter impeller and an inboard layout for steering and reversing hydraulics. A substantial weight saving has been achieved through the use of Centa carbon-fibre shafts. Some 70% of weight has been saved compared to that in the use of conventional steel shafts. SMALLER CAR FERRIES Meanwhile, the largest ferry system in the U.S. is faced with the major challenge of replacing and modernizing an aging fleet. Washington State Ferries, which carries some 26 million passengers annually, is looking to build five new ferries, three 144-car vessels and two new 64-car ferries over the next five years. The design and construction of five boats nearly simultaneously is a first for the state’s ferry system in more than 30 years. Washington is looking to push the construction of the 64-car ferries and will issue a call for bids in July 2008. The first vessel will be completed by spring Following delivery of the three Super-C Class ROPAX ships, Germany’s Flensburger is building a 150.5m for BC Ferries 2010, with the second vessel following in fall 2010. “I have asked Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to evaluate the potential of an accelerated delivery schedule,” said Washington State Gov. Chris Gregoire. “We want to get these boats on the water as quickly as possible.” The 64-car ferries will be based on the Island Home, a ferry built by VT Halter Marine, Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., and operated by the Nantucket Steamship Company in Massachusetts. The accelerated construction plans for the 64-car ferries mean that the WSDOT is scrapping plans to build a 50-car Steilacoom IIstyle vessel, which was originally intended to fill the gap in service until the two Island Homes were built. Instead, WSDOT reached a deal with Pierce County in the state to extend the lease on one of the county’s ferries until new vessels can be built for the route. Paula Hammond, Washington’s Secretary of Transportation, said, “Pierce County continues to be a great partner in our effort to provide auto service to this route while moving forward with new vessel construction.” The Steilacoom II will return to Pierce County in September 2008 and its sister ship, the 50-car Christine Anderson, will serve the Port Townsend/Keystone route until the first new Island Home style ferry is ready for service in spring 2010. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (DCamano Island), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said, “I hope that this action will allow us to move forward more expeditiously to build the Island Home class boats for the Keystone-Port Townsend route. These vessels 66 MARINE LOG JUNE 2008 YEARBOOK www.marinelog.com http://www.coastalmarineequipment.com http://www.skookum.org http://www.coastalmarineequipment.com http://www.skookum.org http://www.marinelog.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marine Log - June 2008

Marine Log - June 2008 Contents Editorial Second Thoughts Update Inside Washington Innovation Needed to Meet Crew Shortage Optimism Abounds Despite Slowing Economy Can Shipping's Shopaholics Keep Up the Buying Binge? Can Congress Keep Navy Shipbuilding Off the Rocks? Fitting the Ultra-deepwater Pieces Together Generation Next Higher Demand, Higher Prices Demand Up For Large Combination Vessels The Dirty Truth About Emissions SSAS: Realizing Its Potential Fuel Saving Technology Newsmakers Tech News Contracts Events Buyer's Guide Website Directory ML Marketplace Tech Talk

Marine Log - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.