Thomaston boatbuilder wins research vessel contract, launches electric boat

The Rockland workboat division of Thomaston boatbuilder Lyman-Morse had two big developments over the past month, both for Maryland customers. It won a contract to build a specially designed 59-foot aluminum research vessel for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The division also launched a fully electric-powered passenger vessel built to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements for small passenger vessels carrying up to 150 passengers. The vessel is powered by a lithium iron-phosphate battery. Research vessel The division’s latest contract is to build a specially designed 59-foot aluminum research vessel to support year-round scientific and field operations for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on the Chesapeake Bay and near-coastal Atlantic waters. Designed with Chartwell Marine, a U.K.-based naval architecture firm, the vessel will combine near-coastal capability, maneuverability, research functionality and a rugged aluminum platform. The Maryland agency commissioned the boat to provide monitoring information and help protect and restore Maryland’s water quality and habitat conditions, according to a separate news release. Features will include a station-keeping system that will allow the crew to maintain precise position during sampling and data collection, even in challenging tidal and current conditions. A large aft working deck with integrated A-frame equipment-handling capability will support deployment and retrieval of sampling gear, buoys and other equipment. “This project reflects the growing demand for highly specialized aluminum workboats," said Jonathan Egan, division manager of LM Workboats. The vessel will be built to U.S. Coast Guard regulations for small passenger vessels and the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System’s research vessel safety standards, among others. The boat will carry up to 20 passengers. The Coast Guard standards mean that “every aspect of the build, from structural engineering and welding to fire suppression and stability testing, is independently reviewed and verified," said Egan. The division will build the vessel in its 15,000-square-foot metal fabrication facility in Rockland, before final outfitting and systems integration at the company’s Thomaston waterfront facility. Electric boat The 49-foot electric-powered aluminum catamaran, Firefly, was custom built for Upstream Alliance, a Maryland nonprofit providing on-the-water education and conservation programs. Designed by New York naval architecture firm Gerr Marine, Firefly will operate from Camden, N.J., as a floating classroom, science laboratory and research platform on the Delaware River. The launch represents a milestone for the commercial marine industry because Firefly brings together solar generation, electric propulsion, lithium-ion energy storage and the rigorous safety requirements governing U.S. Coast Guard-inspected small passenger vessels, according to a news release. “Launching Firefly is the culmination of an unusually complex and rewarding build,” said Lance Buchanan, project manager at Lyman-Morse. Designed to carry 32 passengers, Firefly’s wide, stable catamaran platform provides flexible space for classroom instruction, water-quality testing, scientific research and environmental activities. Building the first fully electric vessel using lithium-iron-phosphate batteries within Coast Guard requirements meant close coordination between Lyman-Morse, Gerr Marine, equipment suppliers and the Coast Guard throughout design, construction and systems integration. During the school day, the vessel will host environmental education programs for middle- and high-school students. Partner organizations will also be able to use Firefly for community programs, scientific research and educational excursions. The vessel will be equipped to carry kayaks, allowing students and other participants to explore tributaries, shorelines and shallow areas. Its deck can accommodate tents for overnight expeditions.