View non-flash version
BOATS & BARGES Willard Marine's 18-foot RIB at speed. Willard Marine Continues Work With U.S. Coast Guard; Introduces SOLAS-Approved 18-Foot RIB California-based Willard Marine Inc., a leading manufacturer of fi- berglass planing-hull and rigid in- flatable boats for the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy for over 30 years, will introduce its new SO- LAS-approved 18-foot Rigid Inflat- able Boat, or RIB, at the New Orleans Work Boat Show in Novem- ber. The new RIB is a smaller version of its 24-foot RIB which the U.S. Navy is using to replace many of its 26-foot whaleboats aboard various U.S. naval ships. Like the 24-foot version, Willard Marine's newest RIB is an open craft with a rigid fiberglass hull and a rubberized inflatable collar. The 18-foot RIB is powered by a Kodiak 3.3D diesel marine engine which de- velops 98 horsepower coupled to a Kodiak 120 Waterjet drive. It can carry up to eight people or a me- dium size load. In comparison, the 24-foot RIB is powered by Cummins' 6BT5.9-M in-line, six-cylinder turbocharged diesel which develops 210 horsepow- er and is coupled to a SternPower 113E126LL stern drive. The 24-foot RIB can carry up to 18 people. "We're very excited about our 18- foot RIB," said Bob Pearcy, presi- dent of Willard Marine, who ex- plained the reasoning for the small- er RIB: "We've seen great success with the 24-foot RIB and felt there was a need for a lighter, smaller res- cue craft that was even easier to transport but shared the same sta- bility and safety features as the larger craft. We take pride in the fact that Willard Marine builds the only U.S.-made RIB that's SOLAS- approved." Over the years, Wil- lard Marine has constructed several vessels for the Coast Guard, includ- ing fifty-six 32-foot ports and water- ways boats for harbor patrol and firefighting, and 22 smaller, self- righting craft for ocean surf rescues. For the Navy, Willard Marine has constructed scores of 24-foot RIBs, 50-, 40-, and 33-foot utility boats and 40- and 33-foot personnel boats. Willard Marine's boats are used at naval and Coast Guard installations throughout the country. Willard Marine's RIBs are con- structed with high-quality fiberglass and an inflatable collar that is me- chanically fastened to the hull. The collar is constructed of heavy poly- ester-weave fabric and has a neo- prene-hypalon coating for extra du- rability. "The Coast Guard has found them to be excellent rescue craft," Rod Swift, vice president of Wil- lard Marine pointed out. "They're light and can easily be transported by aircraft or trailered to a rescue or oil-spill site. They're very stable as a work platform because of the buoyancy collar, and the soft gun- nels prevent victims from becoming injured during open sea rescues." Besides its use by the U.S. Coast Guard, Willard Marine envisions two primary commercial applica- tions for its RIBs in the future. First, for marine rescue operations performed by municipalities, and the offshore oil industry, and second for rapid responses to oil spills. For free literature from Willard Marine giving complete information on the new RIB, Circle 25 on Reader Service Card BOATS & BARGES Bollinger Receives $73.4-Million Modification To Build USCG Patrol Boats Bollinger Machine Shop & Ship- yard, Inc., a family-owned builder located on Bayou Lafourche outside of New Orleans, recently received a $73.4-million modification to a pre- viously awarded firm-fixed contract to construct twelve 110-foot Island Class patrol boats. The new contract is a follow-on to one awarded by the Coast Guard to Bollinger in 1987. The original con- tract for sixteen 110-foot patrol boats had been awarded to the yard in 1984. Although these vessels are for the Coast Guard, they are being procured by the Navy under Con- gressional direction. With the pre- sent award, a total of 49 Island Class patrol boats have been contracted at Bollinger. The WPB 110-foot Island Class patrol boats will be outfitted with ZF's BW-755 transmissions. ZF has received orders for 26 of the trans- missions from Caterpillar, manufac- turer of the engines for the boats. The 12 new boats will be 110 feet long, with a 21-foot beam and a 7- 1/3-foot draft. Standard displace- ment will be 141 tons. Each boat will be powered by two Cat 3516-DITA engines, capable of providing 2,740 bhp at 1,910 rpm. The BW-755 transmissions will provide a 2.33:1 reduction ratio. The Island Class patrol boats will attain an estimated speed of 26 knots. The Island Class is principally designed for offshore surveillance and search-and-rescue operations. It is capable of maintaining high speeds in heavy seas. The first of the new patrol boats is scheduled for launch in December 1990. ZF Marine transmissions were also specified for the 37 Island Class patrol boats previously built for the Coast Guard. Adm. K.G. Weiman, Coast Guard Chief of Engineering, said in a letter for newspaper syndication, "With regard for Bollinger Ship- yard, it is without doubt the finest boatbuilder we have ever done busi- ness with." According to Bollinger, working with the Navy and the Coast Guard has dramatically improved its facili- ty. Some of the services and facili- ties available from Bollinger Larose and Lockport yards include: new construction, quality assurance, en- gineering, gas-freeing, plasma cut- ting and welding. Bollinger has on- site machine, propeller, aluminum, electrical/electronic, hydraulic, car- penter, and mechanic shops. Bollinger recently acquired Al- giers Iron Works & Dry Dock Co., Inc., New Orleans, La., which spe- cializes in the offshore and work- boat sectors. The company will op- erate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bollinger. Over the past 40 years, Bollinger has constructed 168 vessels, ranging from exploration and research ves- sels, oilfield supply vessels, drill rigs and jack-up boats to oceangoing vessels, deck barges, tugs, push boats and fishing vessels. For free literature detailing the facilities and services of Bollinger Machine, Circle 63 on Reader Service Card 42 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
