Nichols Brothers to build the next

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland is on the doorstep of cutting-edge technology with its latest contract to build an ocean-going tug.

The contract for the new tug is with Bay/Delta Marine in San Francisco. The vessel is designed with the power and agility to muscle larger ships in and out of San Francisco Bay. The vessel is the first of a new series of tugs from designers Jensen Maritime Consultants of Seattle.

Nichols expects to deliver the new tug in May 2007.

The vessel is 100 feet long by 40 wide, with a 6,880-horsepower engine.

Citing the need for an increased fleet of ever-more powerful ship-handling-and escort tugs on San Francisco Bay, BayDelta Marine ordered the new vessel with an option for a second vessel, as well.

For Nichols officials, the contract for the tug and several other projects at the Freeland boatyard means steady employment for their workers.

“We will remain fairly constant at between 200 and 230 employees,” said Bryan Nichols, company president.

“We have contracts to build a number of different types of vessels now,” Nichols said. “This is about average for us.”

Nichols Brothers has a number of other projects already underway, including the Grand Luxe, a 230-foot exposition yacht that’s expected to be completed in December. The Steilacoom II, a 216-foot, 54-car double-ended ferry, will be delivered to Pierce County in the fall.

Nichols was also recently named to build two 149-passenger catamarans for the Water Transit Authority in San Francisco Bay for delivery in 2007. These are designed as low-wash vessels that will provide 85 percent less emissions than required by the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2007 regulations.

Nichols said the company is working out the details of the contract with the Water Transit Authority this week.

The new tug will be the first new vessel for BayDelta since the firm equipped its fleet with five 4,400-horsepower tugs in 1995.

Captain Ron Charlesworth, CEO of BayDelta, said that ship-handling tasks have increased steadily in the San Francisco Bay area because of growing traffic and larger ships.

The new tug will be equipped with a pair of 3,4420-horsepower Caterpillar 3516 diesel engines. These plants power two Rolls Royce 255 “Z” drive units.

A normal ship-handling crew will involve three to four persons, although the tug will have berths for up to 10 crew members. Facilities also include a laundry, galley and crew lounge spaces.

Gayle Saran can be reached at 221-5300 or e-mail to gsaran@southwhidbeyrecord.com