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Workboat Marco Shipyard: Rolling With The Changes Over their lifetime, fishing vessels are arguably the most robustly constructed maritime structures around, due to their continuous operation in the most ardu- ous of conditions. Marco Shipyard in Seattle — founded in 1953 — built its business and reputation in the fishing industry, producing boats for operation around the globe. In fact. Peter G. Schmidt, company founder and presi- dent. was an innovator in the use of steel construction for the fishing vessel mar- ket, which previously consisted mostly of wooden boats. "He wanted to bring small boatbuilding into the modern world," said Bob McMahon, vice presi- dent. While the market for building new fishing vessels is a far cry from 10 years ago, Marco Shipyard has parlayed its marine expertise and built a company with the facilities, the personnel, the hardware and the software technology that have enabled it to command a repu- tation of one of the finest builders of tug- boats and pilot boats in the United States. According to McMahon. the company will expand its opportunities further in the coming months, when it will announce a licensing agreement to build aluminum fast ferries, primarily for the vessel-hungry California market. Located on Seattle's Lake Washington Ship Channel. Marco Shipyard has, for nearly half a century served as the lead- ing builder of steel and aluminum ves- sels for the Pacific Northwest. The ship- yard — which touts itself as a true full- service facility — has constructed ves- sels of nearly every type, ranging from oil spill recovery vessels to fishing ves- sels to the most advanced Z-drive tugs in the world. Since the mid-1960s. the yard has built more than 100 steel and alu- minum tugboats, pilot boats, workboats and fishing vessels ranging from 58 to 160 ft. (17/7 to 49 m). Star Gazing Marco Shipyard's approach to vessel construction and repair has engendered a .(flVlgjirSllhipyagj.Se^tjtlJjais consrderabIf experience in builcliiiavs%nTe.oMhe-"\$oi Id's most"advanced Z-di ivc^tu-as l-. J. r - w^Bi - PROTON PUT SAMSON STRENGTH TO WORK FOR YOU YOUR SOURCE FOR SOLUTIONS One of our strengths is the ability to provide solutions to your opera- tional requirements. You wanted a product to maximize the perfor- mance of your "combi" tugs working off H-bitts. We responded and after a year of field testing we are proud to introduce Proton 8 offering the following performance characteristics: < Lightweight, low stretch, and high strength associated with products made from Dyneema® fiber. < Low stretch for maximum control. -« High resistance to heat. -« Excellent grip on H-bitts. •4 Easy to re-splice. Call us to find out how to put WWW.SamSOrirope.com our strengths to work for you. 2090 Thornton Street Ferndale, WA 98248 {T} 800.227-7673 / 360.384.4669 {F} 800.299.9246 / 360.384.0572 The Strongest Name I n Rope ROPE TElCHIsjIZILaEIES Made with I/y JtliiiiJJl.il DSM's registered Trademark for High Performance Polyethylene fiber. Circle 306 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com IP"** ~ November, 2001