Conversion work is nearly completed of the former Oil Spill Response Vessel OSRV MAINE RESPONDER to a Pilot Station Vessel for Sandy Hook Pilots Association of Staten Island, NY. The conversion work contract was competitively awarded to Feeney Shipyard of Kingston NY.
The Sandy Hook pilots have been piloting ships in the New York harbor for over 300 years. They operate a pilot station boat by Ambrose Light year-round and in all weather conditions. As a result, they require a robust vessel to serve the entrance to New York Harbor, Hudson River, Hell’s Gate, and Long Island Sound. The P/B NEW YORK is the largest vessel in the Sandy Hook fleet and has served them well for the past 48 years, but is due to be retired.
JMS has a long history of providing engineering support for the Sandy Hook Pilots’ vessels and when the 208-foot OSRV MAINE RESPONDER became available, the Sandy Hook Pilots Association turned to JMS to provide marine surveying and naval architecture services to evaluate the vessel prior to purchase, develop the conversion concept design through contract-level design bid package, engineering support to the shipyard, and owner’s representative services on behalf of Sandy Hook Pilots during the vessel conversion.