MAY 2019 • FOGHORN 41 MEMBERNEWS HMS Ferries to Operate Service for National Park Service in Pensacola, FL PVA member HMS Ferries, Inc., New Albany, IN, has added to its fleet of ferry operations. The U.S. National Park Service has awarded a 10-year concessions contract for new service. “I’m thrilled to announce another contract addition to our HMS Ferries division,” said John Waggoner, President and CEO of HMS Global Maritime. “HMS Ferries is eager to provide the community and visitors with a convenient, comfortable and seamless transportation option.” Operating as Pensacola Bay Cruises, a private, nonsubsidised, for-profit company system, two ferries will operate between the City of Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Fort Pickens located at the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Santa Rosa Island. Pensacola Bay Cruises will operate seven days a week from May 15 through August 15. The rest of the year, the vessels will run a limited, off-season schedule. The vessels will also be available for rent for private events. The 150-passenger ferries, the Turtle Runner and the Pelican Perch, were built by PVA Associate member All American Marine, Bellingham, WA. According to a report by the Pensacola News Journal, the vessels each cost $2.6 million, with funding secured by the NPS of $4 million in restitution money from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and $1.2 million in federal grant funding. n BLOUNTBOATS.COM WARREN, RHODE ISLAND BUILT TO SERVE BUILT TO LAST BUILT BY BLOUNT Tier 3 clean diesel technology to provide Odyssey III’s propulsion and power in a continuous effort to further reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency. “EPA grant funding helped upgrade the Odyssey III, and other Entertainment Cruises vessels, with new clean diesel engines that will improve efficiency and reduce air pollution,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “By financially supporting projects that modernize diesel engines, EPA is helping provide cleaner, more efficient methods of transportation that will protect the envi- ronment and keep our economy growing. We are excited to see this progress in action with the renovation of Odyssey III.” PVA Associate members were involved in the refit. The two new Cummins QSK19 main engines deliver 600 hp at 1800 RPM with Twin Disc MGX- 5170DC gears with 4.5:1 reduction. n ODYSSEY III, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40