Bellingham boat manufacturer lands contract to build this offshore wind survey vessel
Bellingham boat manufacturer All American Marine has landed a contract to build an innovative offshore wind survey vessel.
The company announced that it will build a 73-foot catamaran for Geodynamics, which does seafloor and geophysical surveying for organizations such as NOAA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The vessel will be named the R/V Shackleford and primarily operate off the eastern seaboard of the U.S., according to a news release from All American Marine. One important factor is this vessel will be built around the sensors that will be used for surveying, allowing for accurate and repeatable data, said Chris Freeman, general manager for Geodynamics, which is part of the NV5 company.
“This new vessel will help Geodynamics provide an unmatched platform for hydrospatial solutions that will enhance our safe navigation, coastal resilience and clean energy missions for our broad spectrum of customers,” Freeman said.
The plan is to have the Shackleford completed in early 2023, when it will undergo sea trials in Bellingham Bay. Then it will be put on a cargo ship and sent to North Carolina, said Bronson Lamb, marketing manager for All American Marine in an email.
All American Marine, which employs 75 people at the waterfront facility, has been busy with other environmentally friendly vessels. It’s expected to soon deliver a ferry that is propelled by hydrogen cells for use in the San Francisco Bay Area.
All American recently launched an 87-foot glacier eco tour boat, Skana. This boat will be doing sea trials in the coming weeks around Bellingham Bay, then head up to Alaska in mid-May in time for the summer tourism season, Lamb said. The manufacturer is also building a 77-foot tour vessel for Puget Sound Express, which is based in Edmonds.
The Shackleford is expected to significantly expand the scientific activities of Geodynamics, said Ron Wille, All American Marine president.
“The vessel will also help advance the rapidly growing wind farm industry on the East Coast and beyond,” Wille said in the news release.
All American Marine was founded in 1987 and specializes in the construction of custom-tailored aluminum vessels. It became part of the Bryton Marine Group of boat builders in March 2021. The group operates a variety of Washington and British Columbia boat manufacturers, including Eaglecraft, Kingfisher and Weldcraft.
This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 12:14 PM.
