Showing posts with label HSV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HSV. Show all posts

Monday, June 20, 2011

"As is, Where is" Two Fast Ferries for Sale, Cheap?


Hot damn, when it rains it pours.

This is where we find out who benefits from them. Whoever hopes to buy them at pennies on the dollar benefits from all the other losses:


[Federal Register: June 20, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 118)]
[Notices][Page 35941-35943]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access
[DOCID:fr20jn11-127]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

Offer for Public Sale of Two High Speed Vessels

AGENCY: Maritime Administration (MARAD),
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: MARAD is offering for public sale, on an ``as is, where is''
basis, two fast ferry vessels, ALAKAI, Official Number 1182234, and
HUAKAI, Official Number 1215902.

DATES: Bids may be submitted on or before 5 p.m. July 20, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Heller, Office
of Shipyards and Marine Engineering, Maritime Administration,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone:
(202) 366-1850; or e-mail David.Heller@dot.gov. Copies of this notice
may also be obtained from that office. An electronic copy of this
document may be downloaded from the Federal Register's home
page at: http://www.archives.gov and the Government Printing
Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Maritime Administration
(``MARAD''), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation,
is offering for public sale, on an ``as is, where is'' basis, two fast ferry
vessels, ALAKAI, Official Number 1182234, and HUAKAI, Official
Number 1215902 (each a ``Vessel'' and collectively, the ``Vessels'').
MARAD will warrant title to the Vessels and convey title free and
clear of all liens. The Vessels were previously owned by Hawaii
Superferry LLC and MARAD has obtained title through foreclosure.
The Vessels were built in Mobile, AL by Austal USA and are currently
berthed at Lambert's Point Dock, Norfolk, VA. Specifications for the
Vessels are set forth at the end of this notice (no guarantee or warranty
as to specifications is made by MARAD).

All bids must contain specific information on the offer price, details of
any financing for the purchase of the Vessels, timing of the closing of
the proposed transaction, affidavit stating that the bidder is not
affiliated with the former owner, Hawaii Superferry LLC, or any of its
officers, directors or significant equity owners, and any contigencies
that could affect the closing of the transaction. Bidders may be either
U.S. citizens or foreign citizens. However, because the Vessels are U.S.
flagged, any bidder who is a foreign citizen must be prepared to comply
promptly with the provisions of 46 U.S.C. 56101 and MARAD's
implementing regulations. Responsive and successful bids should
include the following components: (1) Purchase of both Vessels
(MARAD only will consider an offer for sale of a single Vessel if
concurrent sale of both Vessels to separate buyers can be arranged),
(2) monthly reimbursement of any lay-up costs for the Vessels between
the execution of a sale contract and closing of the sale, (3) purchase of
the Vessels on an ``as is, where is'' basis with MARAD only required to
warrant title to the Vessels and that they are free and clear of liens, and
(4) cash sale or owner-procured financing (proposals with MARAD
financing of the Vessels will not be considered).

The successful bidder will be required to submit a $500,000 deposit
for each Vessel. Deposits must be made by wire transfer or in the form
of a certified check, drawn on a U.S. bank and made payable to MARAD,
within five business days of the bidder being advised that its bid is
approved by the Maritime Administrator. The successful bid will be
considered non-responsive if the bid deposit is not received in the
required five business day time frame. The deposit is nonrefundable.
No interest will be paid on the deposit. The successful bidder's deposit
will be credited toward the bid offer. The successful bidder may not
assign its right to the Vessel without consent of MARAD.

The successful bidder will be required to sign the MARAD form vessel
sale contract that, among other provisions, incorporates all of the
requirements set forth in this notice.

MARAD reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to seek
additional bids from the bidders and any other interested parties.
Arrangements to inspect the Vessel must be made through MARAD.
All inspections will be at the bidder's own risk and expense. For
additional information or to arrange an inspection, please contact
Mr. David Heller at (202) 366-1850 or david.heller@dot.gov. Bids
and affidavits must be submitted by overnight courier to the Maritime
Administration, Office of Marine Financing, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.,
Room W23-432, Washington, DC 20590, Attention: Mr. Daniel Ladd,
by 5 p.m. 30 days from date of publication of this notice.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

Dated: June 14, 2011.

Murray Bloom,
Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-15147 Filed 6-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Interesting story on 41M Austal vessels in Trinidad & Tobago

Source: http://news.bn.gs/article.php?story=20100826164909100

"Trinidad and Tobago's new water taxis..."
Thursday, August 26 2010
Contributed by: ibalgobin



Water-Taxis “Paria Bullet” & “Trini Flash” undergoing sea-trials in Australia.The new Minister of Works and Transport, the Honourable Jack Austin Warner in his recently stated position has announced that he is seriously giving thought to divesting at least two (2) of our brand new Austal designed and built forty-one metre (41M) water-taxis already named “PARIA BULLET”, “TRINI FLASH”, “CALYPSO SPRINTER” and “CARNIVAL RUNNER”. This desire to want to sell-off “surplus” state assets that are “unable to pay for themselves” may be considered good thinking on his part.

The People’s Partnership Government inherited the previous administration’s business model of acquiring foreign used and/or new vessels with “built-in” maintenance contracts, some for as long as five (5) years, with foreign-based marine service providers, as is the case with the six (6) Trinidad and Tobago Offshore Patrol Craft (OPC). According to what has been previously stated by the Honourable Minister of Works and Transport and mentioned in the media, the maintenance cost alone for these four new water-taxis amount to some sixty-nine million dollars (TT$69 million), per year. Normally, as is the case with new automotive vehicles, very little maintenance is required within the first few years of operation, with the exception of routine air/oil filter changes, engine and hydraulic oil changes, lubrication of bearings, usually undertaken after a fixed scheduled number of running hours. As a matter of information, the sale of new marine vessels, normally carry a standard one (1) year shipyard manufacturer’s warranty, which would normally cover both major and minor components, ranging from engine propulsion units to navigational equipment.

In the last three (3) years, the previous administration had outsourced the purchase, maintenance and operational aspects of all of our passenger vessels to foreign entities. Examples of these contracts can be seen with the maintenance and operation of the three (3) used Hydrocruisers (existing water-taxis fleet) which is presently undertaken by Hornblower Global Maritime, Inc. (USA), the used twin INCAT inter-island fast ferries to Bay Ferries Management Limited (CANADA) and the most recent contract for the new water-taxis given to Austal Limited (AUSTRALIA). This foreign outsourcing model will invariably lead to an enormous imbalance between local revenues earned and expenditures paid-out in valuable foreign exchange, related to the operational and maintenance costs of our local passenger fleet.

As a developing country with a new administration intent on diversifying our economy from the energy sector, we all have to start to think even more creatively and look at new opportunities, as they arise.

So, from a purely economic standpoint, the new Minister cannot be faulted for wanting to divest these unproductive assets. However, there may be viable alternatives. For example, these new “surplus” water-taxis can be used to transport tourist from visiting cruise liners that dock at the port of Port of Spain and from those staying at the newly built waterfront Hyatt Regency Trinidad and the nearby Crowne Plaza hotel to Maracas Bay. Local residents will also appreciate driving to our capital cities of Port of Spain, San Fernando and soon-to-be Chaguanas, on weekends and public holidays enjoying the scenic water-taxi ride along the north coast of Trinidad, to and from our beautiful bathing beaches.

With the government owned water-taxi car parking facility available nearby, this can easily provide a convenient meeting point for our population, who will prefer to park their vehicles in a safe and secure facility, rather than to drive for several hours in slow moving traffic to and from the main beaches with their families, as is very common during national holidays. Likewise, the new water-taxis with their two levels of aircraft type seating accommodation can be utilized to offer a similar air-conditioned “tourist-like” experience to our world famous Caroni Swamp, via the Gulf of Paria sea route. The use of these environmentally friendly water-taxis with their large panoramic tinted windows and silent Kamewa waterjets should go well with environmentalists and the visiting scarlet ibis, including the aquatic wildlife.

The People’s Partnership manifesto promises not only to diversify our economy, but to also develop the maritime industry, which should include the development of our local vessel repair and maintenance capabilities. Therefore with a little creativity and thought, we can possibly do both with the newest additions to our maritime fleet.



Interior View of T&T Water-Taxis showing aircraft style seating accommodation.

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CREDITS:

- Photos courtesy and article written by Wilfred de Gannes, T&T Shipbuilding and Repair.