NRC Quest has been moored to the Port of Port Angeles’ Terminal 1 South since the first week of September.
She is the former offshore supply vessel that operated in the Gulf of Mexico out of Port ÂFourchon, La., named Seacor Quest.
In May, National Response Corp. acquired the 160-foot vessel, and in late summer she was sent to Port Angeles for conversion to an oil spill response vessel, an OSRV in waterfront lingo.
Straits Marine and Industrial, the topside repair company whose offices are on the waterfront, were contracted to perform the work.
According to Roy McKay, Straits Marine president, some of the work his company is performing includes installing two pedestal-mounted hydraulic cranes and the components necessary to operate them.
An anchor windlass is being installed on the forepeak to operate newly installed port and starboard anchors. A four-point anchoring system is also being installed for use in future salvage and dive operations.
The company also is installing a sewage treatment system aboard the boat, Roy said, and personnel will be building a raised deck on the aft section of the boat that will take about 50,000 pounds of steel to complete.
When I asked Roy when the project would be completed, he said he wasn’t sure —but he and his personnel had already picked out a spot where this year’s Christmas tree will stand.
It’s the season
Stewart Pugh will be the featured speaker at Wooden Boat Wednesday in Port Townsend this week to talk about something timely — winterizing your outboard motor.
He’ll speak at noon at the Chandlery in the Northwest Maritime Center at 431 Water St.
Stewart has spent nearly 50 years perfecting his craft by working on all types of marine engines.
“Outboard motors in a saltwater marine environment demand more attention than most operators provide,” he said. “Loss of an outboard on a small skiff or sailboat could result in an expensive rescue or loss of life.
“Simple and routine maintenance tasks increase safety on the water and increase the life of the outboard motor.”
During the 90-minute presentation, special attention will be given to salt water, fuel, corrosion, electrical and unintentional abuse to two- and four-cycle engines.
Stuart said his goal for this class is to help boat owners reduce repair costs and learn for themselves how to inspect and detect basic outboard motor problems.
Simple and routine maintenance will be demonstrated and Stewart will have parts of various outboards on display for “show and tell.”
Stuart has also written a manual, Basic Outboard Maintenance, which is the culmination of his years of experience repairing and restoring outboard motors.
The manual was published locally by Protection Island Publishing in Port Townsend and will be for sale for the first time at Wednesday’s event for $19.95.
Seating is limited and requires advance registration by contacting the maritime center at 360-385-3628, ext. 101, or by sending an email to chandlery@woodenboat.org.
Water quality
Alaskan Frontier, a 941-foot, double-hull crude oil tanker anchored in the harbor last week.
According to Chandra “Hollywood” McGoff of Washington Marine Repair, the topside repair facility at the foot of Cedar Street, personnel were onboard for a couple of days replacing valves, piping and grating in the reefer. Personnel also were working on the piping of the water quality package.
A water quality package is a self-contained system that filters out solid particles from salt water that are as small as 80 microns (0.003 of an inch) to create a supply of abrasive-free water.
This conditioned water is then used to cool and lubricate the stern tube bearings, which support the rotating propeller shafts.
Barge stowed
Platypus Marine Inc. hauled out the barge Ediz Hook and has it stowed in the Commander Building on Marine Drive in Port Angeles.
The steel barge, which is 110 feet long and 54 feet wide, was built for the U.S. Navy in 1943 by the Pacific Car and Foundry Co. of Seattle, which also constructed dry docks, steel tugboats and Sherman tanks for the World War II effort.
The barge, formerly named Olive Oil, is currently used by the Puget Sound Pilots as a mooring barge for their two pilot boats, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound.
Personnel at Platypus will spend the next couple of weeks sandblasting corroded areas, painting the barge and attaching a new set of zincs.
On the hard
Last month, Jeremy Winn of Hoquiam had his commercial boat, Melissa Lynn, on the hard at Platypus for a number of upgrades.
Jeremy has since sold the boat and purchased a 58-foot Jensen that was used in Monterey, Calif., to fish for squid.
The boat, which is sitting on the hard, is now named Quallay Squallum and will be used by Jeremy as a seiner and a crabber.
According to Capt. Charlie Crane, director of sales and marketing for Platypus Marine, personnel will paint the main deck and install MAXiTUF non-skid decking.
Personnel also will install lights on the mast that will be used for crabbing. A new davit for handling crab pots will be installed, and a fuel cleaning system in the engine room will be set up.
Platypus also has Aleutian Belle on the hard. She is a 58-foot Delta that took eight days to journey from her hailing port of Kodiak, Alaska, to Port Angeles.
Capt. Charlie said she will be at Platypus’ facility for about three weeks for installation of a bulbous bow with a bow thruster and to have her rolling chocks enlarged.
Fueling up
Tesoro Petroleum on Tuesday bunkered Polar Discovery, an 895-foot crude oil container that is due in Valdez, Alaska, tonight for another big gulp.
On Wednesday, Tesoro refueled the Crowley owned articulated tug and barge Vision/650-10.
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David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats, ships and strolling the waterfront.
Items involving boating, port activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. Email Âdgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.