View non-flash version
SOUTHERN UPDATE Builders, Suppl iers Voice 'Cautious Optimism' For New Year It seems not long ago that the success of southern ves-sel builders and suppliers was proportionally parallel to business conditions in the Gulf of Mexico offshore sector. Thus, the steady decline in offshore-re- lated business forced builders and suppliers to search for work else- where. Many have, as has been well recorded, found a silver lining in the construction and supply of casino boats, as well as the repair and conversion of vessels of all types. The following is a review of some of the companies which have accepted an active role in reshap- ing and revitalizing the Southern marine industry. 1993: Yards Face New Year Cautiously, Optimistically In general, Southern vessel builders are looking to 1993 with caution and hope, a conclusion sur- mised through an informal survey of a handful of Southern yards. For example, at Freeport Ship- building & Marine Repair, Inc., based in Freeport, Fla., the work log has been and is looking promis- ing. In 1992 the yard delivered the Prototype, a 70-foot aluminum coastal cruiser; the Barefoot Prin- cess, a 65-foot steel passenger ves- sel; and the Star of America, a 124- foot aluminum charter yacht. On the books at Freeport Ship- building for 1993 is the Island Spirit, a 65-foot aluminum sport fishing boat due for delivery in March 1993; the Lady Anderson, a 130-foot steel passenger vessel scheduled for delivery in May 1993; and a yet to be named, 65-foot steel passenger vessel, for delivery in April 1993. Atlantic Marine, Inc., in Jack- sonville, Fla., delivered the Em- press, a 222-foot gaming vessel to the Des Plaines River Entertain- ment Group, in May 1992; and the Tambor, a 130-foot passenger/ve- hicle ferry to Naviera Tambor, S. A., in September, 1992. For 1993 the yard is putting the finishing touches on the Alton Belle, a 222-foot gaming vessel, scheduled to be delivered in May 1993 to the Alton River Boat Gam- bling Partnership; and the Martha's Vinyard, a 230-foot pas- senger/vehicle vessel slated for a November 1993 delivery to Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard & Nan- tucket Steamship Authority. Avondale Shipyards Division had a busy 1992, which included two keel layings, three launchings, five builders trials, three accep- SeaArk's new Dauntless vessel is a deep vee hull design. tance trials and deliveries of five ships and one floating prison. Avondale's Boat Division also deliv- ered the towboat Elizabeth Dewey and the tug, Captain Bud Bisso. For 1993, the Boat Division is scheduled to deliver, in July, a Viking Maritec- designed, 168-foot towboat. Finally, SeaArk Marine, Inc. of Monticello, Ark., had several new product developments in 1992. The yard introduced the new "Dauntless" line of deep vee hull vessels, designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates and available in lengths from 28 to 44 feet. Several 40-foot versions of the Dauntless were sold and delivered in 1992, including two patrol boats to the Jamaican Coast Guard, one to the Corps of Engineers in St. Louis and one for the Corps of Engineers in Boston, and one to the U.S. Border Patrol. Another new model introduction, the "Commander" series, is also a deep vee hull design and is available in lengths of 21-, 23- and 25-feet. A 21-foot Commander was delivered in January 1993 to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, which will uti- lize it as a patrol boat. SeaArk's third new product, the "Barracuda," is available in sizes from 30 to 35 feet designed for law en- forcement and patrol. Aside from the yard's new offer- ings, SeaArk recently delivered eight 21-foot "Navigators" to the Port Se- curity Division of the U.S. Coast Guard, and several utility "Roust- abouts" were sold to oil companies for boom-towing operations. The yard, which is "cautiously optimis- tic" according to marketing director Robin A. McClendon, also has other boats recently delivered, or- dered or in progress. SUPPLIERS: Products & Services Metairie, La.-based Robertson Marine Systems, Inc. has developed a new dynamic positioning system (DPS), the Robmaster I, which meets classification requirements for a single computer DPS, eg. DnV AUT class. Robertson's cost-effective modu- lar hardware is supplied in a central DP console. The Robmaster I is supplied with a list of standard fea- tures which incorporate a track ball for easy operator interface to the navigation software programs; pool- ing, weighing and filtering of posi- tion reference information base on repeatability, scatter and probabil- ity; automatic reallocation of thrust to operative propulsion units; and much more. Robmaster I is simple to upgrade by adding "off the shelf' software modules which provide job specific operational functions. Since 1937 Cospolich Refrigera- tor Co., of Kenner, La., has supplied refrigerators, freezers and other galley equipment to the marine in- dustry. Cospolich perfected the modular refrigerator, which can be broken down and put back together, ideal and cost effective when supplying a new refrigeration unit on a vessels refit or repair. According to Eddie Luquette, national sales manager, 1992 was poor compared to 1991, yet the com- pany still experienced growth. The coming year, by all indications, should be good, Mr. Luquette re- ports. Pending defense department cutbacks are of little concern to Mr. Luquette, as he reasons, although there will be fewer new ships built, there will be more repairs and refits an ideal market situation for the company's modular refrigerator. A company not physically located in the South but which has been able to capitalize on the yards' new types of business is R.W. Fernstrum & Co., of Menominee, Mich. Fernstrum, which supplies a full line of keel coolers, has worked closely with top Southern builders to outfit the latest casino boats and ferries, including the Nichols Brothers-built 72-foot ferry, Klondike. According to Sean Fernstrum, the Southern industry represents ap- proximately 50 percent of the it's business. Mr. Fernstrum, who points out his company's products have been used by the Army and Coast Guard for more than 20 years, said the chief advantage Fernstrum products hold over a competitor's is that Fernstrum products are deliv- ered "ready to install." Another out-of-region company profiting from the Southern indus- try is Frank W. Murphy Manufac- turing, based in Tulsa, Okla. The company offers a full line of controls and instrumentation for the marine market. The company offers a 12-page catalog entitled "Monitor- ing and Protection for Marine En- gines and Equipment," which in- cludes full-color photographs, draw- ings and descriptions of more than 60 products. New on the Southern supply scene is Barrataria Lofting Company. Established in 1992, Barrataria offers small shipbuilders a cost-ef- fective way to enjoy the benefits of computer lofting and numerically controlled plate cutting technologies. The company offers services for lines fairing, offsets, shell plate de- velopment, burning machine code, production related data and CAD drawings of lofted contours. Founder and president, Christo- pher A. Barcelona Sr., a loftsman with more than 12 years experience in the industry, explained that pre- viously only the larger operations had the financial stability to invest in the equipment and personnel re- quired to effectively incorporate an NC application in fabrication proce- dures. Today, utilizing a firm spe- cializing in computer lofting along with an outfit supplying plate cut- ting, a shipbuilder can evaluate the costs effectiveness on a per contract basis. "Overall employment in our industry is on the decline and the day may come when retaining skilled workers with experience in ship- building disciplines will be difficult," said Mr. Barcelona. "The modern shipyard cannot afford to waste man hours with outdated, labor intensive manual methods to cut plates." 64 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
