Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) owns and operates two vehicle ferries that cross the Illinois River. These ferries tie Calhoun and Green Counties with Jersey County, near Brussels, Illinois. Service is provided round-the-clock, with more than 250 daily crossings. Normally, a single tug-barge unit operates at each of the two crossings. At peak demand, when feasible, a second tug-barge unit is put into service to mitigate a long line of waiting vehicles at the landings. In order to better meet peak demand, as well as retain a spare unit available in case of mechanical failure, IDOT has begun the process to upgrade its fleet.

Art Anderson Associates was retained to provide naval architecture and marine engineering design to construct a new ferry unit. Our services began with a trade-off study examining options for a new ferry. We examined three distinct ferry schemes, including a tug-barge unit matching the Belle Calhoun (the newest ferry in IDOT's fleet); a similar, but larger tug-barge unit; and a double-ended ferryboat. This study examined trends in demand, pushboat and barge modifications to consider, construction cost, fuel consumption, vessel life cycle and design options.

The result of the trade-off study was that a new tug-barge composite unit that is slightly larger than the Belle Calhoun is the optimal solution. Art Anderson Associates is currently preparing plans and specifications, estimates for fabrication, advertisement/procurement assistance, and owner's representation during fabrication and delivery. In addition, we are leading efforts to acquire all necessary US Coast Guard approvals, vessel documentation and certification of the completed ferry so that it can be placed into service.

The estimated construction cost for the new ferry is $1.5M, and design work is currently underway.

Art Anderson Associates provided naval architecture and marine engineering services for in the conversion of the ex-USNS Indomitable into a multidisciplinary ocean-going research vessel. The converted vessel, now the NOAA Ship McArthur II, conducts oceanographic research and assessments, throughout the eastern Pacific, including the US West Coast, Central and South America.

Our tasking included providing designs for this conversion to match that of the McArthur II's sister ship, the Hi'ialakai. Conversion work items included the installation of a new mission deck above the main deck aft; extension of the forecastle deck; installation of a new A-frame, J-frame, knuckle boom deck crane, oceanographic winch, central hydraulic system with a new hydraulic power unit, Miranda work boat davit, and new anti-roll dump tank; relocation of the existing hydrographic winch; removal of various structures, including the raised winch control station house, and equipment incidental to the installations.

To save cost and provide commonality, the fleet drawings from previous conversions of were modified, based on an extensive shipcheck, to suit the McArthur II. In addition to drawing development, purchase specifications were prepared for the oceanographic winch, hydraulic power unit and Miranda davit. Throughout the project, close liaison was maintained with NOAA's technical personnel to ensure timely transfer of needed information and resolution of problems. By ensuring that all of NOAA's requests for this project were discussed and resolved at our corporate internal resource meetings, we were able to allocate the necessary resources and time without delay in either schedule or increase in fiscal charges.

Art Anderson Associates provided naval architecture and marine engineering services for the reactivation of the NOAA Ship Fairweather. Originally commissioned with NOAA in 1968, the ship was deactivated in 1989, but a critical backlog of surveys for nautical charts in Alaska was a motivating factor to reactivate the ship in 2004.

Our scope of services for the reactivation included many intricate tasks. We prepared specification and installation drawings, to provide and install a suitable machinery monitoring and control system for an automated engine room. The system includes additional monitoring points for bilge alarms at all tank top locations throughout the ship, refrigerator and freezer alarms, chill water drain tank, and bow thruster critical points. We provided specification and installation drawings to provide and install a suitable fire alarm and detection system (FADS) in compliance with 46CFR 160.002, similar to that currently installed on the NOAA Ship Rainier.

Art Anderson Associates also successfully developed the fantail arrangement and foundation drawings. This task involved the integration of the foundation for the Conductivity, Temperature and Depth Instrument (CTD). The CTD is connected to the ship by means of a conducting cable and data are sent electronically through this cable, in real-time, to the scientists on the ship. We prepared installation drawings for the high speed high resolution (HSHR) winches and the installation of new fairlead padeyes. The fantail not only meets American Bureau of Shipbuilders standards for fantail arrangements, but also added improved mission capability to the vessel.

One of the most intricate tasks was preparing the specification and installation drawings for the installation of two steam boilers and the conversion of the existing hot water heating system to steam. This included sizing the boilers for the expected load for all consumers, including the new evaporators.

We also provided specs and drawings for the incinerator installation; evaporator installation, boat davit installation, food service modifications, living accommodation modifications, pilothouse modifications, elevator conversions, and greywater drain modifications.

The Fairweather is outfitted primarily for hydrographic survey missions, but is capable of many other functions that support various NOAA missions. She is equipped with multi-beam survey systems; high-speed, high-resolution side-scan sonar; position and orientation systems, hydrographic survey launches, and an on-board data-processing server. Increased mission space and deck machinery enable Fairweather to be tasked with anything from buoy operations to fisheries research cruises.

The Fleet Greening Study is a comprehensive review and cost/benefit analysis that evaluates available technology and equipment that can be applied to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessels in order to reduce their carbon footprint and support the agency's environmental objectives. With more than 25 years of experience providing engineering services for the NOAA fleet under multiple consecutive term contracts, Art Anderson Associates was tasked to lead this effort.

The scope of study involved reviewing regulatory requirements and proposed changes, investigating the latest systems and environmental technologies, conducting shipchecks of representative NOAA vessels and discussing recommendations with ship personnel, developed a process for conducting a full-scale fleet audit and cost estimate, and providing a prioritized list of recommendations that will provide a basis for NOAA budgeting and fleet modernization programs.

Both near- and long-term improvements were evaluated, accounting for the differences in vessel operations, operating areas, missions, life cycle and vessel designs. Particular emphasis was placed on investigating system improvements that reduce vessel air emissions and fuel consumption, improve waste processing and pollution prevention from ship discharges, and reducing the overall carbon footprint of vessels. Specific recommendations were provded in the areas of engine replacements, fuel usage, hull coatings, boiler and heating system modifications, ballast water treatment, oily waste and sewage processing system upgrades and HVAC system improvements.

In addition to the benefits to our client, which now has a basis to move ahead with its greening activities, the report was significant in moving forward our own firm's knowledge of green vessel technologies-expertise that can be applied to new designs, conversions and other vessel modernization projects undertaken by Art Anderson Associates.