Modernization of The U.S. Fishing Fleet
Coming in the January 2017 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News is an insightful report on the modernization of the U.S. Fishing Fleet, with a focus on the ubiquitous Pacific Northwest. Modernization of the North Pacific Fishing Fleet, a study by The McDowell Group for the Port of Seattle, has made the rounds and given weight to the idea that a major fleet upgrade really is underway. With average 2014 gross revenues having run between $2 million for Bering Sea/Aleutian Island trawl vessels to $16 million for some catcher-processors…
Repower and More for the Cornelia Marie
One of the best-known commercial fishing vessels in the world, the Cornelia Marie, has just undergone life-extending surgery. The Bering Sea crabber has gained a wide public following both for the family saga of ownership and for her role in the television series Deadliest Catch that portrays the challenges of one of the world’s toughest fisheries. When Roger Thomas and his partner Kari Toivola began searching for a Bering Sea crab investment, Roger called Casey McManus. Casey has skippered the Cornelia Marie and is a shareholder in the boat.
New Engines for Muir Milach
Built in 1979 at the Mid Coast Marine shipyard, the 103 by 26-foot F/V Muir Milach has earned a fine reputation amongst the mid-water trawl fleet. An early adapter in the Alaska Pollock and cod quota fishery, the vessel has been a consistent producer. Currently an important component of the family-owned Aleutian Spray Fisheries fleet she has been well maintained. In January 2014 she was fitted with updated sonar equipment. In January 2015 an extensive repower of both main genset and main engines was completed.
Keeping to the Schedule in the Pacific Northwest
When a tightly scheduled repower for the Kodiak-based trawler Sea Mac in early December took a very bad turn, Mike Fourtner used his 25 years of fishing experience and leadership to pull together a team at Cummins Northwest to solve the problem. For the past year, Mike Fortner has been Marine Regional Sales rep for Cummins Northwest. “The new engine had crossed oceans from the factory by ship to Columbus, South Carolina. It was hauled thousands of miles across North America by truck…
Blue North Fleet Gains Siemens Diesel-Electric Propulsion
Siemens SISHIP LV drives and SINAMICS components to power customer’s environmentally friendly, next-generation fishing vessel, saving up to 30% in annual fuel and maintenance costs. Based in Seattle, Blue North Fisheries (BNF) operates five fishing boats called “freezer long liners” in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska and one smaller seiner in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. BNF’s largest vessel is 180-feet long with a crew of 23, while its smaller seiner is 58-feet long with a crew of six. Established in 1983, BNF has grown to approximately 150 employees.
New Power in the Heart of the Alaskan Beast
Twenty-two year-old crab boat's faithful Cummins diesel engines replaced with state-of-the-art version. Fans of the popular Discovery Channel series “The Deadliest Catch” thrill at the sight of the 113-foot, black-hulled Time Bandit’s bow rearing out of a cresting wave. Onboard men launch and recover 1000-pound crab pots while chilled Arctic seas wash over the working deck. In the wheelhouse, the crab boat’s skippers Andy or Jonathan Hillstrand monitor the deck crew and the boat’s electronic navigation equipment.
Jensen Designed Longliner Wins Award
Jensen Maritime awarded for vision and innovation in design of the 'Northern Leader' longline fishing vessel. Jensen Maritime , Crowley Maritime Corp’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm, has been honored with the New Wave Award, which recognizes the company’s vision and innovation for the concept and design of the Northern Leader, a 184-foot long, environmentally-friendly longline fishing vessel owned by Alaskan Leader Fisheries LLC. The Northern Leader is currently under construction at J.M.
Gold Dredging Vessel Delivered
The 50-foot vessel, designed by Anderson Associates, & built by Pacifica has been delivered for gold dredging near Nome, Alaska. Anderson Associates, a Bremerton-based multidisciplinary engineering services firm, recently completed design of a new dredge vessel for Pacifica, a Seattle-based vehicle assembler. The vessel was designed specifically to meet the unique requirements of sub-surface dredging operations in the remote coastal waters of the Bering Sea, and is powered by twin 300HP Yamaha outboards.
Fishing Vessel Major Refit Completed by Jensen
US-based Jensen Maritime, completes a major redesign of the Global Sea-managed fishing vessel 'Bering Defender'. The project, which improved the vessel’s efficiency and hold capacity, outfitted it for pollock fishing in the challenging waters of Alaska’s Bering Sea. The refurbished fishing boat, formerly named Dona Martita, recently arrived in Seattle after departing the East Coast and transiting the Panama Canal. Global Seas, based in Seattle, is an operator of a diverse fleet of research and fishing vessels.
Coast Guard Icebreaker Begins 2012 Arctic Missions
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter 'Healy' begins the first of three Arctic missions scheduled during 2012. Healy departed its homeport of Seattle July 30, for a deployment that will include three missions that support scientific research in the Arctic. After a brief stop in Dutch Harbor for logistics and to welcome aboard the 38 members of the HLY-12-01 science party, the cutter continued its northbound transit through the Bering Strait to the Chukchi Sea. The first science mission the Healy crew is scheduled to conduct is a part of the Chukchi Sea Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area (COMIDA) project…
Arctic Route Helps Owners Slash Fuel Costs
The debate regarding working in and around the Arctic is multi-tiered, with environmental, technical and emergency response heading the list. There is no debate regarding the fuel, money and emissions to be saved by shortening select global shipping routes. In a report from Bloomberg news posted June 13 on http://www.businessweek.com, it was said there will be a rise in dry bulk cargos hauled through Arctic waters this season, a journey that can halve shipping time compared to some Suez Canal shipments, and simultaneously reduce fuel consumption, costs and emissions.