ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND PILOTS

Gladding-Hearn Delivers New Class of Pilot Boats

Gladding Hearn, Duclos Corporation, has delivered Maryland pilot boat to Virginia Pilot Boat Corporation. It is the Virginia Pilots’ sixth Gladding-Hearn launch, but the associations’ first of the new Chesapeake class. The new all-aluminum boat measures 52.5 ft., with a 17-ft. beam and a 4.8 ft. draft. It is powered by twin Detroit Diesel Series 60-D-DEC engines, each developing 600 bhp at 2100 rpm, with top speeds of 25 knots.

Carnival, Pilots Disagree on Ships' Volumes

Carnival Corp. filed suit against the Virginia Pilot Association this week, seeking to recoup about $350,000 in what it says are overcharges by the pilots, which steer ships between the Atlantic Ocean and docking points in the port of Hampton Roads, according to a report in The Virginia-Pilot. At issue is how to properly calculate the volumes of the Fun Ships that Carnival has sailed from Hampton Roads several times a year for the past decade

Celebrity Launches Sailings From Baltimore

Celebrity Cruises set out its inaugural sailing from the Port of Baltimore on the 1,870-guest Galaxy. As the first guests embarked on Galaxy, they were joined by Celebrity executives, officials from the Port of Baltimore and Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, members of the media, and representatives from other organizations in a special ceremony onboard the ship. "We have had a warm and welcome reception from every organization we have worked with in launching these new

Kvichak to Build Pilot Boat for Savannah Pilots Association

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc., of Seattle, WA, was recently awarded a contract to build a 64' all-aluminum Pilot Boat for the Savannah Pilots Association of Savannah, GA. For more than 140 years, the Savannah Pilots Association has safely guided vessels on the 25 ½ mile journey from the sea to the port of Savannah. They require vessels with excellent sea keeping ability and maneuverability even in the worst of sea conditions, and again they are turning to Kvichak

Houston Pilots Association To Christen M/V Bayou City

The Houston Pilots Association will christen the pilot boat M/V Bayou City at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Port of Houston Authority's Sam Houston Pavilion located at 7300 Clinton Drive. Annette Edmonds will officially christen the vessel during a ceremony that will be attended by more than 200 invited guests, including PHA Chairman Jim Edmonds, Vice Chairman Kase Lawal, Commissioner Steve Phelps, Commissioner Jim Fonteno, Commissioner Jimmy Burke, Commissioner Cheryl Thompson-Draper,

State of Alaska Awards Program to RTM

The State of Alaska Dept. of Commerce and Economic Development awarded RTM Star Center a four-year contract for a simulator based marine pilot performance evaluation system. The Star Center program will be simulator-based and include training in shiphandling skills, the American Pilot's Association-approved Bridge Resource Management and Automatic Radar Plotting Aids. Alaska state-licensed pilots will train at the Ft. Lauderdale facility on its full mission 360 degree bridge simulator

Camarc And Kvichak Marine Team Up Again

Camarc and Kvichak Marine Industries have joined together once again to design and build an all-aluminum 72-ft. (22 m) pilot boat. The new vessel, which is scheduled for a Summer 2002 delivery, is for the Sabine Pilots Association of Groves, Texas, and will operate year-round in the waters of Sabine Pass. The vessel's power will be supplied by twin Detroit Diesel 16V2000 engines rated for 1,285 bhp each at 2,100 rpm; Hamilton HM651 waterjets were selected for the propulsors

Hearings Adjourn in Port Arthur

The Coast Guard adjourned the formal hearings, Thursday, March 11, concerning the Jan. 23, 2010, incident involving the tank vessel Eagle Otome, the Gull Arrow and the tug Dixie Vengeance.  The incident resulted in more than 400,000 gallons of oil being spilled into the Sabine-Neches waterway. Summary: Eric Lewis, the VTS watchstander, testified concerning his training, maritime experience, and the details of the displays and sensors he monitors as a watchstander

FMC to Examine Sovereign Immunity Claim of Md Port

Administration The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued an Order directing Ceres Marine Terminals and the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) to submit reply briefs on the issue of whether the MPA is an arm of the state of Maryland and entitled to sovereign immunity with regard to the claim of Ceres Marine Terminals. The briefs are due in 30 days. Ceres Marine Terminals, Inc. v. Maryland Port Administration Source: HK Law

Houston Pilots Christen M/V Bayou City

The Houston Pilots Association christened the pilot boat M/V Bayou City at the Port of Houston Authority's Sam Houston Pavilion last month. "The addition of the M/V Bayou City to our fleet will greatly enhance our organization's total commitment to safety on the Houston Ship Channel and excellence in service to the maritime shipping industry," said Capt. Mike Morris, presiding officer of the pilots. The $6 million M/V Bayou City vessel measures 72 ft. in length with a breadth of 43 feet