Blount sub-licenses MAPC to build South Boats crew transfer designs

Warren, RI, has signed a sub-license agreement with Marine Applied Physics Corp. (MAPC) of Baltimore, MD, for the building of offshore wind crew transfer vessels to South Boats designs.

Cowes, U.K., based South Boats has designed and built approximately 30% of the crew transfer vessels serving European offshore windfarms. Blount Boats, a Rhode Island shipyard in business since 1949, has held the U.S. license for South Boats designs since 2011.

In 2016 Blount Boats delivered the Atlantic Pioneer, a South Boats 21 m transfer vessel, to Rhode Island Fast Ferry. The vessel is the first U.S.-flagged crew transfer vessel to operate in U.S. waters and services the Deepwater Wind Block Island Project which is the first, and currently the only, offshore windfarm operating in the United States.

MAPC is a 32 year-old company that designs and builds vessels for commercial and military customers. These include both manned and unmanned vessels from 4.3 m to 40 m in length.

MAPC recently designed and built five subchapter T passenger vessels for use on Chesapeake Bay, has recently delivered 24 air-dropped rescue vessels for use by the para-rescue jumpers of the Air National Guard, and is currently designing a 40-mr unmanned vessel for emerging Navy requirements. The company works in composites for its smaller craft and in aluminum and steel for its larger craft. Vessel construction work is performed in Baltimore while its composite work is led by personnel in its Brunswick, ME, facility.

MAPC's Baltimore facility includes a 52,000 square foot deep-water fabrication facility containing two 180-foot bays that are serviced by 30-ton bridge cranes. The facility includes full-service machining, electronics, and welding shops.

"We are thrilled to have found a well-qualified partner to build South Boats designs as the offshore wind industry develops and demand for crew transfer vessels increases exponentially," says Marcia Blount, President of Blount Boats. "MAPC's technical expertise, quality control, and location will assist in making South Boats the vessel of choice as we work together to ensure continued superb performance."

Mark Rice, President of MAPC, says, "We are particularly excited to be working with Blount Boats as we have a long-standing admiration for their vessels and people. By collaborating with Blount on the production of South Boat designs, we are able to increase the collective production capacity, bring new technologies to the market, satisfy regional content needs, and rapidly introduce product to the rapidly growing market for Jones Act compliant crew transfer vessels."

The sub-license covers the waters off the coast of Maryland with other geographic areas added by written agreement.