The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently took delivery of a new river maintenance workboat from Alabama-based boatbuilder Silver Ships.
Dashields is the second in a series of three landing craft workboats built by Silver Ships for the USACE Pittsburgh District, the first being the 2022-built Allegheny River. The vessels will support the Pittsburgh District's mission of improving navigable waterways and water infrastructure, particularly along the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in Pennsylvania.
The custom-built, welded-aluminium vessel measures 40 feet (12 metres) long and is powered by twin 350hp (260kW) Suzuki outboard motors that provide enhanced manoeuvring capabilities for working in tight spaces. A modified vee hull with a recessed cargo bay provides a stable work platform. As a landing craft, the vessel offers high load-carrying capacity and a shallow draught for loading and unloading applications.
Other features include a walkaround cabin, Furuno navigation and radar systems, a Westerbeke 20kW generator, Maxilift cranes with 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) lifting capacities each, and an A-frame with a 3,000-pound (1,360-kilogram) lifting capacity.
As with other Silver Ships vessels, the hull is designed for strength and durability in compliance to ABS rules for high-speed naval craft.
Silver Ships said the workboat will support maintenance efforts of navigation locks and dams as well as buoy tendering operations.
| Dashields | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Maintenance workboat |
| Classification: | ABS |
| Flag: | USA |
| Owner: | US Army Corps of Engineers |
| Builder: | Silver Ships, USA |
| Hull construction material: | Aluminium |
| Superstructure construction material: | Aluminium |
| Deck construction material: | Aluminium |
| Length overall: | 40 feet (12 metres) |
| Main engines: | 2 x Suzuki outboards, each 350 hp (260 kW) |
| Generator: | Westerbeke, 20 kW |
| Radars: | Furuno |
| Cranes: | Maxilift |
| Operational areas: | Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, Pennsylvania, USA |