VESSEL REVIEW | J.D. Mackin – US Army Corps of Engineers acquires survey catamaran for inland waters

Alabama boatbuilder Silver Ships recently delivered a new hydrographic survey catamaran vessel to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

J.D. Mackin will be operated by the USACE Detroit District. Silver Ships said the vessel is specifically designed to support hydrographic surveying operations critical to the USACE’s mission of maintaining navigable waterways and ensuring infrastructure integrity.

The newbuild has all-aluminium construction, an LOA of 40 feet (12 metres), and a beam of 11 feet (3.4 metres).

As with other boats built by Silver Ships, the boat’s hull is designed for strength and durability, and to ensure compliance with the American Bureau of Shipping’s rules for high-speed craft, while the aluminum plates are of 5086 H32 grade with each bottom plate having a minimum thickness of 0.25 inch (6.4 mm).

Stable platform for inland surveys

The hull is also optimised for stability and precision in surveying missions while the wheelhouse is mounted forward to permit incorporation of an open aft deck for carrying additional personnel or survey equipment as needed. 

The spacious and ergonomically laid-out wheelhouse has full climate control to permit operation under a range of weather conditions, while its windscreens are reverse-angled to reduce any glare seen from the helm station.

Full data-gathering sensor suite for limited-scale operations

The vessel is powered by twin Mercury SeaPro 500hp (370kW) outboard engines and features a Furuno navigation suite. Silver Ships said its versatile configuration also includes advanced multibeam sonar and mapping systems.

The sonar is fitted on an integrated retractable mount. Data gathered by the sonar can be viewed via custom survey workstations installed in the wheelhouse.

Also fitted are individual stern rails to protect the outboards from impact damage when the vessel is operating in waters where debris is present.