Boat aluminum called defective

Associated Press

SEATTLE — A shipbuilder from Whidbey Island has sued two metal providers, claiming they are responsible for defective aluminum plates that have cracked in ocean water and put boats at risk for hull failure.

Nichols Bros. Boat Builders also said the problems have cost millions in repairs for boat builders. The company filed suit Monday in federal court in Seattle, alleging that aluminum maker Alcan and distributor Reynolds Aluminum Supply sold the metal as marine-grade material,though tests later showed it was not.

Nichols and other local shipbuilders notified inspectors in January that the metal corrodes and cracks under normal marine use. The Coast Guard has been investigating the metals companies since then.

At least 25 vessels at a cost of $50 million have been built locally with the faulty aluminum, Nichols Bros. said.

Seattle-based Kvichak Marine Industries and Kingston-based Norsco Marine are two shipyards that also have used the aluminum, the Coast Guard said. Others are still checking their boats, Lt. Cmdr. Tom Miller said.

Coast Guard officials in Washington, D.C., are seeking to determine whether the aluminum plates also were used elsewhere.

Montreal-based Alcan is cooperating with the Coast Guard and is conducting its own investigation, said Pat Persico, an Alcan spokeswoman for U.S. operations. The company has told the Coast Guard its manufacturing process does not guarantee the alloy for marine use.

Alcan maintains the alloy is not certified as marine grade by the Aluminum Association, a trade group. Also, because Alcan aluminum does not sell directly to consumers, it’s up to distributors to determine the appropriate use, Persico said.

Aluminum distributor Reynolds, now operated by Minneapolis-based Integris Metals, was aware of the Coast Guard investigation but would only say the company was gathering information, spokesman John Cregan said.