Cummins Vessel Reference #746

The Newport, Oregon-based Miss Berdie was built by Rodriguez Boat Builders of Bayou LaBatre, Alabama in 1987. When the owner approached Fred Wahl Shipyard and the naval architect Hockema & Whalen Associates (HWA) about increasing the vessel’s capacity, Miss Berdie had a registered length of 77-feet and a 27.8-foot registered breadth with a molded depth of 11.5 feet. Naval architect Paul Monical, of HWA reports, “The primary goal of the project was to increase the hold capacity from just under 4,000 cubic.feet. to 7,000 cu.ft. and to improve freeboard.“

Monical went on to explain how these goals were met, “To achieve these gains, both the yard and HWA felt it would be best to build an entirely new aft section of the boat (aft of the engine room) where the beam was increased to 39 feet and the deck was raised approximately 15 inches to bring the molded depth to 12.7 feet. Forward of the engine room, sponsons were added to the existing hull, fairing between a newly reworked bow and the new aft section.”

Since the overall length could not be changed, the rake in the bow stem was reduced giving the boat a longer waterline length relative to the overall length, which is set by the vessel’s fishery permits. Monical explained that, “This gain in waterline length was essentially added to the midships area which could be used to best advantage toward increasing the hold capacity.”

The boat’s 78-inch diameter bulbous bow was shortened to maintain the boat’s overall length. The final dimensions for the vessel are within the limits of the regulation fishery permits. It now has an 80.6-foot over-all registered length, a 39-foot breadth and a 12.7-foot molded depth.

The trawl gantry was moved aft to allow a longer working deck. To improve towing performance and offset the increased displacement, it was further decided to increase the vessel’s horsepower. The existing V-12-cylinder Cummins KTA 38-M, which delivered 1200 HP, was replaced by a V-16-cylinder EPA tier 3-compliant Cummins QSK50-M delivering 1800 HP at 1900 RPM. The propeller diameter was increased to 90 inches and fitted with a NautiCAN Integrated Propulsion System that includes the propeller, a high efficiency nozzle, pre-swirl stators and triple high-aspect ratio rudders.

The Miss Berdie is expected to complete sea trials in January 2015 and leave the yard shortly after.

For further information:

Paul Monical
Naval Architect
Hockema Whalen Associates, Inc.
Naval Architects/Marine Engineers/Electrical Engkineers
Phone: 206 365 0919
E-mail: paulm@hockema.com
Web: www.hockema.com

Mike Wahl
Fred Wahl Marine Construction
100 Port Dock Rd.
Reedsport, OR 97467 4402
USA Phone: 541 271 5720
E-mail: wahlfish@fredwahlmarine.com

Mike Fourtner
Marketing Manager
Cummins Northwest
811 SW Grady Way,
Renton, WA 98057 2944
Phone: 425 235 3400
E-mail: mike.fourtner@cummins.com