Maritime Reporter, March 1997

<BODY> <div> OFFSHORE & SHALLOW DRAFT REPORT The Leader in Cost Effective Maritime Satellite Communications Q: Why do companies like Dixie Carriers, National Marine, Hollywood Marine and Tidewater use BOATRACS??? A: Because they: • Save Time and Money • Can send and receive messages beyond cellphone range. • Get a position fix on their vessels with each message, or more frequently if they like. • Send only the information they want, without the risk of unclear or garbled reception. • Get the data they need, when they need it, and can import it directly into their Information Management System without having to re-enter it. • Want to manage their boats and their business, not their message traffic. Call for more information, and find out how BOATRACS can help your company. BOATRACS, INC. 6440 Lusk Boulevard Suite D201 San Diego, CA 92121-2758 Toll Free: 1-800-336-8722 FAX: (619) 587-1073 GiO Bgrjoo Hvide Signs $6 M Deal With Halter Marine Te Build New Design Hvide Marine Inc. signed a contract with the Halter Marine Group, Inc. for the construction of two Ship Docking Modules (SDM) for delivery in early 1998. The SDM is a double-ended ship-dock- ing vessel representing the next generation of har- bor tugs. The company has filed a patent application on the design of the SDM. "This is the first major breakthrough in tugboat design in nearly 100 years," said Erik Hvide, chairman, president and CEO. "The SDM's round- ed shape and twin Z-drives give it unmatched maneuverability and power, making it the safest and most cost-efficient ship-docking vessel in the world. It's the first vessel capable of generating 100 percent of its bollard pull in any direction — for- ward, backward and sideways. It's so different from a conventional tug that we had to give it a new name," he added. The contract with Halter provides for the con- struction of two SDMs at a cost of approximately $3 million per vessel. Including certain owner-fur- nished equipment, professional fees and contingen- cies, the total cost of each vessel is approximately $4.75 million. The contract also contains options for four additional vessels. When placed in service, the first two SDMs will operate in Port Everglades, Fla., and Mobile, Ala., allowing the continued deployment of two of the company's existing tugs in the offshore sector. "We're delighted Hvide chose Halter to build these truly unique tug," said Halter CEO John Dane III after the contract award. The 4,000-hp SDM will have Z-drives mounted forward and aft and offset from center, providing equal propulsion in all directions. It has been designed to operate with two crew members, thus reducing operating costs below the level main- tained by conventional tugs. The SDM measures 76 ft. (23 m) long, with a 50-ft. (15-m) beam. Elliott Bay Design Group began the concept design of the SDM in early 1995. Several designs were prepared during the evolution of the SDM, and Elliott Bay's James Cole said that the accep- tance or rejection of design features brought unique design challenges. Construction of a radio-con- trolled working model was authorized in October 1995, and model tests were conducted secretly in the Seattle marina in March and April 1996. Ship Docking Module Specifications Length 76 ft. (23 m) Breadth 50 ft. (15 m) Design draft 16 ft. (4.9 m) Gross tonnage Less than 150 Z-drives Ulstein Horsepower 4,00 Engines Caterpillar 3516 "BTA" diesels Winch Markey Hawser winch Bollard pull In excess of 110,000 lbs. in all directions Firefighting One 3,000 gpm fire pump 50 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News Circle 225 on Reader Service Card </div> <span id="lblContents"></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/" title="Digital Magazine">Digital Wave Publishing</a> </BODY>