John W. Gilbert Associates

Past Projects

The Woods Hole/Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority put the Passenger Vehicle Ferry M/V Nantucket back into service in the Spring of 2008. JWGA provided design and engineering for the midlife retrofit of the vessel. Shipyard work was accomplished by Colonna’s Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia. Renovations included a new passenger deck house for a larger concession and dining area, a new pilot house for improvements to security and all weather visibility, mezzanine deck passenger cabin modifications that allow for improvements in sheltering the passengers from the weather. Passenger evacuation measures were also improved by arranging the cabins more efficiently as well as adding marine evacuation slides, port and starboard. JWGA also redesigned the engine room ventilation system for a better supply and exhaust, a new anchor pocket and winch arrangement, new heating boilers and air conditioning system, freight deck structure modifications for improvements to loading and off loading as well as an increase of vehicle carrying capacity. Directions in Design (D.I.D) of St. Louis, Missouri provided the interior décor and lighting system design.

In May of 2008, the Guidry Brothers Towing/ Harvey Gulf International took delivery of the Ocean Tug Warhorse II built at Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, Florida. The vessel is the fourth JWGA designed Ocean Tug for Guidry Brothers Towing and is an addition to their 16,500 horsepower class fleet of towboats, the Warhorse II is 145’ x 45’ x 22-6”, ABS Classed, Maltese Cross A1 for ocean service. She is powered by a pair of EMD 20-710 engines coupled to Reintjes WAF5655 gear boxes driving 13’- 0” diameter Bird Johnson stainless steel propellers in type 19A nozzles. She is currently in operation in the Gulf of Mexico towing oil rigs and other heavy tows in the oil exploration and recovery industry.

Eastern Fisheries of New Bedford, Massachusetts took delivery of the 92’ Scalloper F/V Wisdom. The Wisdom is the 5th sister of the F/V Neskone and the 12th vessel that is a JWGA in their fleet. The F/V Wisdom is powered by a CAT 3508 rated 975 horsepower at 1600 rpm, coupled to a Reintjes WAF 561 reduction gear. She has accommodations for a compliment of 10. The F/V Wisdom was built at Duckworth Steel Boats in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Coastal Transportation Inc. took delivery of the Aleutian Trade Vessels the Coastal Progress and Coastal Nomad. The cargo ships were converted supply vessels. Coastal Transportation came to John W. Gilbert Associates through its past work on similar vessels needing an increase in speed. We provided speed and power analysis, stability calculations, stability test and all construction plans for a new bulbous bow and stern extension. Our efforts in this project created vessels that go 3 knots faster, carry 80 long tons of additional freight, burn 20,000 gallons less fuel per trip and allow for up to 5 additional round trips per year between ports.

The P/V Carol Jean, a triple screw 175 ft LWL passenger vehicle ferry designed by JWGA in 1981, was repowered with new 1200 hp Cummins engines. The project required extensive modifications not only to the engine systems, but to systems and structure throughout the vessel. The existing engines were removed and replaced as well as the skegs and struts. Other changes to the vessel included adjustments to the foundations, new exhaust systems, stack, electrical, shafting, engine cooling, engine room ventilation, fuel and lube oil system changes. A new sewage tank was also added and a new seating arrangement was created. The Carol Jean has gained four and a half knots at full load.

Wells Seafood Company took delivery of their second scalloper, Pursuit, built at Duckworth Steel Boats in Tarpon Springs, Florida. This vessel is a sister to John W. Gilbert Associates Design D-286 the F/V Carolina Girl and is powered with a 650hp, Caterpillar 3412. Improvements to this design include subdivision standards to meet current regulatory requirements, a larger aft deck house for plate freezers and a shucking house and cutting table for the Captain.

Eastern Shipbuilding delivered a John W. Gilbert Associates designed casino boat, Big M Casino, to its owners in March 2005. The 186’ LOA vessel carries 500 passengers and operates out of Ft. Myers Beach, FL. JWGA produced all calculations, plans, and specifications for construction by Eastern Shipbuilding and approval by the US Coast Guard. The firm created detailed drawings for all of the structure, machinery, mechanical systems, electrical, profiles and arrangements, and life safety. The Big M Casino includes two decks of casino gaming areas, one indoor and one outdoor dining area, three full service bars, and a live entertainment area. The luxurious boat also features extensive crew offices for the control and monitoring of all casino operations on board. The vessel will operate year round with several daily cruises.

JWGA completed updates to all of the shipboard mechanical and electrical systems for the sailing vessel Poincare in an effort to bring her into compliance with the USCG inspection requirements for 49 passenger service in and around Boston. The vessel underwent a number of changes at Boston Boat Works to accomplish the level of safety required by Subchapter T. Our office has generated all of the necessary plans for review and has performed a stability test on this vessel as well to determine the quantity of sail she may carry.

This 160 FT LOA Catamaran Passenger Vessel, P/V Jessica W. was purchased in Mexico by Cross Sound Ferry Services. JWGA prepared plans and calculations for changes to machinery, safety systems, and general arrangements. The scope of work was quite extensive including a re-powering with new engines, foundations, and exhaust; updates to the structural fire protection throughout the vessel; addition of an automatic sprinkler system; super structure additions; tonnage calculations; loading platform; electrical system; ride control system; sliding water-tight doors; bilge system; shift of fuel tanks; emergency generator room and emergency generator addition; engineer control room addition; changes to the seating arrangements and food services area; rescue boat davit modifications and new rescue boat. The firm also performed tonnage calculations, a stability analysis with a deadweight survey, and also completed life saving and safety plans for the renovated ferry.

JWGA developed plans for the midlife retrofit of the passenger/vehicle ferry New London. A fifty foot section of midbody was added giving the vessel an overall length of 260 feet.

There has been a significant concentration of repowering work for John W. Gilbert Associates in the recent past. Three passenger ferries, the J.J. Callis, the Shahan II and the Daniel Salmon, were repowered for Department of Homeland Security FSSI Plum Island Animal Disease Control in New York. The higher speed of these ferries has been a major asset for the facility. The owners are also pleased that the fuel consumption has remained the same as before the repowering despite the increase in horsepower and also the vessel consumes less lube oil. The M/V Adirondack also underwent a repowering on Lake Champlain in Vermont. This is another older vessel, like the M/V Cape Henlopen that has seen many renovations over the years. The 130 ft double-ended ferry was originally built in 1913 and was powered by a coal-fired steam engine. After several changes, the vessel was brought to Lake Champlain, VT and had two Detroit Diesel 12V71 engines installed in 1970. We are currently replacing those engines with CAT 3412D 540 HP engines. The M/V Adirondack is the oldest in service double-ended American ferryboat of all time.

Plans for a change to the steering gear on the M/V Susan Anne have been completed by JWGA. This change will require additions to the hull sides in way of the steering apparatus to allow additional room within the compartment for the new assembly.

A fascinating project that we were fortunate to have the opportunity to be involved with is a structural change to the bow section of the P/V Cape Henlopen. The Cape Henlopen Ferry was built as a World War II landing ship (LST 510) in Jeffersonville, Indiana and participated in the D-day invasion at Normandy. In 1966, it was converted to a passenger and auto ferry and served on the Lewes, Delaware - Cape May, New Jersey Route. It was purchased in 1983 by Cross Sound Ferry and underwent a total refurbishment before entering service. When the vessel was originally converted to a ferry from an LST, the ramp used to get landing craft onto shore was retained and the bow doors were welded closed to form the existing bow. A new main deck and bow door were added above for the ferry service. Over time, the remaining ramp deck and articulating ramp support became difficult to maintain. In an effort to improve the compartment, the old ramp and some other pre-existing structure has been removed and JWGA was tasked with the design of the new structural details which will tie into what is leftover of the original structure.

Eastern Fisheries of New Bedford, Massachusetts has taken delivery of the 13th John W. Gilbert Associates designed Scallop Boat the F/V Acturus. The vessel was built at Duckworth Steel Boat in Tarpon Springs, Florida and is 88’-4" LWL, with 1,000 horsepower engine allowing her to tow two 14’-0” dredges. This particular hull design was built with a bulbous bow to achieve enhanced fuel economy.

Some photos on this site appear courtesy of Cross Sound Ferry