One of the North Olympic Peninsula’s success stories, Armstrong Marine on Octane Lane off U.S. Highway 101, midway between Sequim and Port Angeles, continues to grow.
Last week, I ventured out to the boat manufacturer to chat with Capt. Charlie Crane, who works in the sales department, and Josh Armstrong, company president.
Capt. Charlie told me about a couple of projects the company is working on.
One is a 32-foot aluminum catamaran landing craft-style fire and rescue boat for the fire department on Sullivan Island, S.C.
He said personnel in Port Angeles cut out the pieces for the boat and shipped them to Armstrong’s plant near Swansboro, N.C., where the vessel will be assembled.
Charlie went on to say that Armstrong also is building a 43-foot mono-hull fireboat for the community of Navegantes, Brazil.
This project also was cut in the Port Angeles shop, and the pieces and ancillary parts were shipped to Brazil.
Armstrong sent personnel to Navegantes to assist private contractors in assembling the fireboat, which will be able to pump 3,000 gallons of water per minute once it is operational.
And now the big news.
Josh Armstrong told me about a new alliance the company recently formed with Naiad, a New Zealand boat builder.
He said the company has been building high-performance, rigid-hull inflatable boats for patrol, search and rescue, coast guard, piloting services and the commercial market for 25 years.
Naiad’s product line — which can be seen at www.naiad.co.nz — is now available for Armstrong to manufacture and distribute to the U.S. market, giving Armstrong the ability to go head to head with current domestic rigid-hulled inflatable boat builders.
The rigid-hulled inflatables, known in the industry as RHIBs, will be built at the Armstrong facilities in Port Angeles and Swansboro.
Final decision for where each boat is built will be determined by the vessel’s destination and construction considerations.
Josh concluded our time together by saying:
“This partnership combines Armstrong Marine’s professional aluminum boat-building team with one of the best RHIB designers in the world.
“We are excited to be expanding our offerings and join the RHIB marketplace.
“Together with Naiad and the other licensed builders, we will be one of the strongest RHIB manufacturers in the global marine industry.”
Too heavy to hoist
Platypus Marine, the full-service shipyard, yacht-repair facility and steel-boat manufacturer on Marine Drive in Port Angeles, attempted to haul out Sea Mac, an 87-foot steel commercial fishing vessel that had developed issues with her running gear while underway from Seattle to Alaska.
However, she had taken on a full load of diesel fuel in Seattle and was too heavy for the company’s 330-ton TraveLift to hoist out of the water.
Neighbor Westport Shipyard was contacted, and Westport’s 550-ton TraveLift hauled Sea Mac out of the water.
Platypus Marine on Thursday hauled out Skyetyme, a 130-foot Christensen yacht.
I understand she will be out of the water for the better part of three weeks while undergoing a renewal inspection for her five-year certification by the American Bureau of Shipping.
While in Platypus’ Commander Building, personnel will sandblast the hull from the waterline down and apply a new coat of paint.
The Port Angeles filler-up
Tesoro Petroleum, which operates at the base of Ediz Hook to fuel the big ships in Port Angeles Harbor, provided bunkers Friday to Lowlands Camellia, a 738-foot Panamanian-flagged bulk cargo ship.
Today, Tesoro is scheduled to bunker Sea Voyager. She is an 800-foot tanker that is flagged in the Marshall Islands.
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David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats and strolling the area’s waterfronts.
Items and questions involving boating, port activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. Email dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.
His column, On the Waterfront, appears Sundays.
