Deliveries

Millennium Maritime began providing ship assist and escort services to the Los Angeles harbor area in. late-April, with the first of two new 4,400 bhp (3,282 bkW) Z-drive sister tugs designed and built by Marco Shipyard.

The 105 ft. Millennium Falcon is powered by two Cat 3516B marine diesel engines, each rated 2,200 bhp (1,641 bkW) at 1,600 rpm, supplied by N C Power Systems, Seattle. The electronically controlled Cat engines drive Ulstein stern Z-drive propulsion systems with 94.5 in. four blade propellers inside Ulstein high performance nozzles.

The second Millennium vessel is currently under construction at Marco and is scheduled to enter service in. August 2000. Harley Marine's subsidiary, Pacific Coast Maritime, has been operating a 4,000 bhp (2,982 bkW) Marco-built, 3516B-powered ship assist tug Gyrfalcon in. Dutch Harbor, AK since 1995.

The new Millennium Falcon is equipped with two Cat 3304B gensets rated 105 ekW at 1,800 rpm. Front power takeoff (PTO) hydraulic drives on these engines power the vessel's two Burrard deck winches.

The Burrard HJD double drum tow winch holds 2,200 ft. of 2 in. diameter wire and 2,000 ft. of 2.25 in. wire, providing 45,000 lbs. of mid-drum pull at 62 ft. per minute. The model HE headline winch has a mid-drum pull of 14,700 lbs. at 138 ft. (42 m) per minute and carries 500 ft. of 3 in. diameter Vetstran line.

Kvichak Tests Rollover Capacity of New Pilot Boat

As the old saying goes, "If you fall off a horse, get right back on and ride." That's what Kvichak Marine did during the 360-degree stability test of the Chinook.

The first stability test of the 72-ft. pilot boat failed because a fire extinguisher broke loose during the roll and shattered a port window, allowing the pilothouse to flood. The flooding altered the center of gravity and the Chinook laid on its side until the water was pumped out. Approximately three hours later the window was replaced and the roll was attempted again. This time, the vessel passed.

Kvichak is nearing completion of the all-aluminum pilot boat for the Columbia River Bar Pilots Association of Astoria, Ore. The vessel, designed by Camarc, Ltd. of the U.K., is intended to right itself during a rollover because of its center of gravity, buoyancy, and hull design.

To perform the rollover, Kvichak used a Foss supplied barge crane and strapped belts under the hull. As the crane lifted the belts the Chinook was turned over 180 degrees, the straps released themselves and the vessel successfully righted itself.

Scheduled for delivery this month, the Chinook will transport pilots across the Columbia River Bar, an area well known for adverse weather conditions and heavy seas. This test proves the pilot boat is capable of surviving a 360-degree rollover and can return safely to its mooring with crew and equipment intact.

U.S. Navy's Destroyer Christened at Ingalls

A naval hero of World War II was honored recently when the U.S. Navy's newest Aegis guided missile destroyer was christened in. his name at Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding.

The new ship, previously known as hull number DDG 84 was christened with the name "Bulkeley," to honor Vice Admiral John Duncan Bulkeley, USN, (1911-1996), a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

Bulkeley was a PT boat pioneer who used his four-boat Squadron to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur and Philippine President Quezon from Corregidor and Bataan, Philippine Islands, in. 1942. In command of Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) Squadrons Three and Seven during the defense of the Philippines, Bulkeley evacuated the two high ranking officials while destroying several Japanese planes, surface combatants and merchant ships.

Promoted to Lieutenant Commander, he took part in. the landings in. the Trobiand Islands in. July 1943. He then commanded PT boats patrolling the beaches during the Allied landings on Normandy in. the Atlantic Theater of Operations. During the August 15, 1944, landing of General Alexander M. Patch's 7th ARMY by Admiral J. Kent Hewitt's Western Naval Task Force on the southern coast of France, Bulkeley, as Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS Endicott, sank two German corvettes attempting to escape from the harbor at Toulon.

Bulkeley remained in the Navy after the war, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral in. June 1963 and was named Commander, Navy Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He became President of the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), the team responsible for testing new ships before final acceptance into Fleet duty, in. 1967, and served in. that assignment for 21 years. He retired from active duty as a Vice Admiral in. 1988.

The 509.5-ft., 9,300-ton Bulkeley will operate primarily with aircraft carrier battle groups, but will also provide essential escort services to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces and auxiliary ships, and conduct independent operations. The ship will be operated by a crew of approximately 383 officers and crewmembers. Construction of DDG 84 began at Ingalls on May 25, 1998. The ship's keel was laid on May 10, 1999. When completed at the end of 2001, DDG 84 will be homeported in. Norfolk, Virginia as an element of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Commander Carlos Del Toro, USN, of New York, will be the new ship's Commissioning Commanding Officer.

Low Profile Dinner Cruise Vessel Delivered

A unique dinner cruise vessel, Nina's Dandy, was recently delivered to Dandy Cruises for service on the Potomac River in. the Washington, D.C. area. The vessel was designed by DeJong & Lebet Inc., Naval Architects. It was built by Freeport Shipbuilding, Freeport, Florida.

The 135 x 40-ft. vessel's low profile allows her to access the upper parts of the river, past several low bridges. Nina's Dandy has an air draft of only 16.5 ft. It is USCG Certified under Subchapter K for 300 passengers and crew, and measures less than 100 gt.

Many of the design features for this vessel are the direct result of the low bridge clearance requirement. The vessel's large galley and restrooms are located in. the hull. The vessel is very wide, in. order to create enough dining area on the Main Deck, which is the only deck where a dining room could be located. This required a unique hull design by DeJong & Lebet Inc. in. order to get the vessel deep enough in. the water to clear the bridges.

The Main Deck of the vessel features the dining room, office space, and handicap restrooms. The Pilothouse is stepped above the Main Deck, and features a small private room below it, half in. the hull, and half above the deck. The Second Deck is an open observation deck to view the many sights on the DC waterfront. The Main Deck features large windows to enjoy the views from the comfort of the fully air-conditioned dining room.

Nina's Dandy is powered by a pair of Cummins NTA-855 diesel engines, 350 hp @ 1,800 rpm, with Twin Disc MG-5111 gears, driving a pair of Rice five-bladed propellers. Electrical power is provided by a pair of Cummins 6BTA generators @ 95 kW. A 16 in. American Bow Thruster, 80 hp, is electrically powered off a third genset. Controls and motors for the bowthruster were furnished by SCR Engineering. The vessel carries 35 tons of air-conditioning by Marine Air.

The vessel carries 6,000 gallons of water, 5,000 gallons of fuel, and 5,000 gallons of sewage. Nina's Dandy is the fifth dinner cruise vessel designed by DeJong & Lebet delivered in. the past year. The firm currently has two other dinner vessels under construction, and two on the drawing boards.

Sea Hawk Delivers Second Patrol Boat

Following the delivery a few months ago of a Wide Beam 360 Enforcer patrol boat to a Salem, Mass. harbormaster, Florida-based Sea Hawk Industries has answered the call yet again for the harbormaster with Sea Watch - a twin-powered boat used for patrol, enforcement, search and rescue.

Paul Milone, the harbormaster, opted for a closed heated cabin, as well as a transom door, dive platform and fire pump on the 315-hp vessel. With a top speed of 32 knots, Sea Watch is outfitted with separate raised pedestal seats for both the pilot and co-pilot.

Muson Supplies Packman Landing Craft

The William E. Munson Company delivered a 28 ft. (8.5 m) jet powered Packman landing craft designed as a tender to a new 160 ft. (48.7 m) seismic workboat. Powered by a Cummins 6BTA 315-hp turbo diesel coupled to a Hamilton 274 jet drive, the vessel can move at a speed of 45-mph and cruises at 2,200-rpm at 30-mph.

Outfitting includes four point lifting system, 48 ft. (14.6 m) wide console T-top, beaching wear plate, 125 gallon fuel system and stern jet drive guard.