A Day in the Life of a Towboater: Part III
Last August Raina Clark began the story of her eight day trip on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers on the towboats Theresa Wood and Thomas E. Erickson, both chartered by AEP River Operations and owned and by Marquette Transportation. She described the working lives of the crew, how the relationship between the boats and the lock facilities has changed since 9/11, a river boat captain who built his crew into a tightly knit team and the uniqueness of the Upper Mississippi.
MV Polar Pirated in Somali Basin
On the morning of 30 October 2010, the MV Polar, a Panama-flagged tanker, was pirated in the Somali Basin. The Liberian-owned MV Polar was attacked during the night, approximately 580 nautical miles (almost 1,100 km) East from Socotra island. The owner confirmed this morning that his vessel was under pirate control. The MV Polar, deadweight 72,825 tons, has a crew of 24, of which one is Romanian, three are Greek, four Montenegrin and 16 Filipino.
Pirates Fail in Attack on MV Go Trader
On the morning of 30 October 2010, the Malta-flagged MV Go Trader was reported under attack from one skiff approximately 280 nautical miles (520 kilometres) south east from Salalah, Oman. Pirates had managed to board the vessel; however, after a couple of hours they eventually abandoned it, after having been unable to get control over the crew who had locked themselves in the ship’s citadel. The 24 crewmembers are reported safe.
Cargo Ship Hits Sandbank, Brisbane
According to a report from the Brisbane Times, a steering fault caused a container ship to run aground in Moreton Bay off Brisbane. The 217-metre MSC Basel was leaving…
OIS Expands U.S. Gulf & Mexico Services
Offshore Inland Marine, Industrial, Oilfield Services (OIS) has expanded their U.S. Gulf and Mexico Services with two new facilities. OIS has opened a new deepwater repair and fabrication facility in Pensacola, Fla., positioned as a Marine, Subsea, and Drilling Support Base. OIS is now operating out of a full service, deepwater support base in Dos Bocas, Mexico which adds to their office in Del Carmen, Mexico. OIS has been very active with subsea and marine fabrication and offshore projects.
Conrad Shipyard Delivers Ferry
Conrad Industries, Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: CNRD.PK) announced the delivery of an aluminum passenger vessel for Puerto Rico Maritime Transportation Authority (PRMTA). The Cayo Blanco can carry 600 passengers on two decks. She measures 160 ft x 32 ft x 13 ft and the vessel route is from Fajardo to Vieques and Culebra in Puerto Rico. She is powered by four MTU 12V-4000 M60 main engines with MGX 6848 Twin Disc gears. The generators are John Deere and there is a 200 hp tunnel bow thruster.
Northrop Grumman, $48M for Advance Procurement
The U.S. Navy has awarded a $48m cost-plus fixed-fee contract modification to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for advance procurement of long-lead materials…
Top Source Countries for U.S. Containerized Imports
U.S. containerized imports showed positive growth year-to-date ending August 2010, according to PIERS. An analysis of the data reveals that the U.S. containerized…
Patent for Pro-Flo X Air Distribution System
Wilden Pump & Engineering announced that its Pro-Flo X Air Distribution System (ADS) has received Patent No. 7,811,067 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Tugz International to Purchase HandySize Tug
Tugz International LLC, an affiliate of The Great Lakes Group, , entered into a Purchase Agreement for a new HandySize 2,800 hp tug with Red Cape Marine Corporation, a Puerto Rico based company.
This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – November 1
1843-Secretary of Treasury Spencer issued new "Rules and Regulations for the governing of the Revenue Cutter Service" centralizing control of cutters under Revenue Marine Bureau…
This Day in U.S. Naval History – November 1
1841 - "Mosquito Fleet" commanded by LCDR J. T. McLaughlin, USN, carries 750 Sailors and Marines into the Everglades to fight the Seminole Indians. 1941 - President Franklin D.
CG Foundation 17th District Tribute
The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced that…
