Joe Toomy Rejoins Port NOLA
The former chairman of the Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners Joe Toomy is rejoining the group.Gov. John Bel Edwards reappointed Joseph F. Toomy to the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans.Toomy was sworn in during today’s monthly board meeting and will serve a five-year term succeeding Laney J. Chouest as one of two Jefferson Parish representatives on the seven-member regional board. He previously served on the Board of Commissioners from 2009 to 2014 and served as chairman in 2013.With the Port’s acquisition of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad effective Feb. 1, 2018, Port Commissioners also serve as directors of the New Orleans Public Belt (NOPB) board…
Contracts Awarded for U.S. National Defense Reserve Fleet
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that DOT has awarded contracts with a total award value of $1.96 billion over eight years to seven U.S. maritime firms to manage, maintain and operate 48 National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) vessels through January 2024. These Maritime Administration contracts are funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Sealift Fund to support DoD’s strategic sealift mission. “Since 1946, National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels have facilitated U.S. strategic sealift, natural disaster response, and humanitarian operations all around the world,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
Laborde Repowers Much of Stone Oil Fleet
In January 2014, Laborde Products sold its first Mitsubishi engine to John W. Stone Oil for the vessel John W. Stone. Since then, Laborde has supplied the Gretna, Louisiana-based oil distributor with seven more Mitsubishis, repowering half of its fleet. The John W. Stone, Olga G. Stone and Moose are now powered by a S12A2-Y2MPTK at 940 hp, while the Jennifer, Shell Fueler, Hiawatha and Custom each have a S6R-Y2MPTK at 630 hp. Stone Power utilizes a S12R-Y3MPTAW at 1,100 hp. Tony Odak, VP operations & business development, John W.
Coast Guard Restricts Mississippi Traffic Following Collision
The U.S. Coast Guard said it restricted traffic to one way in the vicinity of the International Matex Tank Terminals near Gretna, Louisiana, on the lower Mississippi River early Wednesday following a multi-vessel collision. A Maltese-flagged vessel, Flag Gangos, lost control near mile marker 97.4 on the river on Tuesday evening and collided with Liberian-flagged vessel Pamisos and a barge, Web 235, which were both moored at the terminal for transfer operations, the Coast Guard said. Number six fuel oil was being transferred from the barge when it broke free, and some oil was discharged into the river from a transfer hose, the Coast Guard said. The hose was immediately shut after the incident, according to the Coast Guard. "Responders on scene deployed a boom in the area of the incident.
Louisiana DOTD Ferry to Undergo Repairs
Beginning Monday, July 1, 2013, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will begin new hours of operation temporarily utilizing the Motor Vessel Louis B. Porterie, a medium-sized ferry servicing vehicles and pedestrians, at the Algiers Point to Canal Street route. The Porterie will be in service while the permanent ferry, the MV Col. Frank X. Armiger, is out of service. The Armiger’s generator is currently in need of repair and DOTD is waiting on a second proposal to determine the cost. The Armiger will be the primary vessel once it repaired and cleared for service by the U.S. Coast Guard. As of now, there is no estimated time frame for when the Arminger will return. The Algiers/Canal ferry will now operate Monday-Thursday from 7:15 a.m.
Super Bowl XLVII & Lower Mississippi Maritime Security Ops
In support of Super Bowl XLVII, a team of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies begin maritime safety and security operations on the lower Mississippi River, Monday. Response boats, patrol vehicles and enforcement personnel from more than 16 law enforcement agencies will conduct maritime security operations in the downtown New Orleans area and at the Port of New Orleans. All agencies will work together within a unified command, lead by the Port of New Orleans Harbor Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, to provide a coordinated safe and secure environment for Super Bowl participants and the general public. This level of interagency coordination for the Super Bowl is the culmination of several months of planning involving all law enforcement agencies.
Coast Guard Medevacs 1 from Sailboat in GOM
A Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a man from a 64-foot sailboat 200 miles offshore New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico, Thursday. Watchstanders at the 8th Coast Guard District command center received a call from the son, who reported his stepfather and mother were in distress aboard the sailboat Paradise beset by heavy weather. The son reported the couple were on their way back to Houston after a trip to Cozumel, Mexico. The 8th District watchstanders reached the Paradise by iridium…
Gulf Oil Spill: Ships Face Few Delays
As oil from BP's sub-sea well laps coastal Louisiana, most ships in the Gulf have avoided contact with the spill but owners fear that regulations will be tightened after the disaster, raising their costs. “We've seen no delays from the spill, and it hasn't affected the operations of any of our ships,” said Dean Taylor, president of Tidewater Inc. in late May. Four vessels owned by Tidewater, which is headquartered in New Orleans, have been involved in recovery efforts. The company's work boat Damon B.
Public Hearing, Proposed Gretna Ferry Route Change
The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will hold a public hearing on a proposal to change the route of the Gretna ferry from the Gretna-Jackson Avenue route to the Gretna-Canal Street route. In addition, proposed changes in the times of operation for the Gretna ferry will be discussed. The proposed start date for the new route and/or times of operation will be in the fall of 2009. The hearing will take place on August 26, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Gretna City Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd Street at Huey P. Long Avenue, Gretna, La. DOTD representatives will be available to answer questions and to receive comments from the public. For more information relating to the meeting, contact Peggy Olivier at 504-376-8100.
Bollinger Delivers 80,000 BBL Tank Barge
Lockport, La., Bollinger Gretna, L.L.C. of Harvey, La., a Bollinger shipyard, has delivered B. No. 284, a double hull 80,000 bbl oil tank barge built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90) to Bouchard Ocean Services, Melville, N.Y. Barge B. No. 284 is a manned ocean, clean oil tank barge measuring 399-ft, 11-inches long, with a 74-ft beam and a depth of 28-ft, 6-inches. The barge is built to, and certified by, American Bureau of Shipping and United States Coast Guard to meet the requirements of OPA’90 with 12 cargo compartments and three separate pumping systems.
Viking Receives 2,600 bhp MTU Series 2000
Viking Yacht Company is the first in North America to take delivery of MTU 16V 2000 M94 engines. The first of the 16V configurations, which has a standard setting 2,600 bhp at 2,450 rpm, has been delivered to Viking Yacht Company for installation in a new 82-ft Sportfishing vessel. MTU distributor Johnson and Towers delivered a pair of the engines to Viking’s New Gretna, N.J. facility, where the vessel is being built. According to Johnson and Towers senior vice president Bob Shomo, Viking has been a longtime supporter of MTU’s Series 2000 engines.
Bollinger Delivers 60k BBL Tank Barge
Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered B. No. 262, a double hull 60,000 BBL oil tank barge built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90) to Bouchard Ocean Services, Inc., Melville, NY. Barge B. No. 262 is a manned ocean, clean oil tank barge measuring 350 ft long, with a 70 ft beam and a depth of 25 ft. The barge is built to, and certified by American Bureau of Shipping and United States Coast Guard to meet the requirements of OPA’90 with ten cargo compartments and two separate pumping systems.
Marcon Sells 11th Ocean Tank Barge This Year
The single skin, ocean tank barge, B. No. 105, was sold to West African buyers after sellers took delivery of their newbuilding double-hull replacement. The barge, re-named Heyden-Lamissa, was built by Gretna Machine & Iron Works, Gretna, LA in 1971. Principal dimensions are 340 ft by 70 ft by 27.5 ft hull depth. Cargo capacity is 12,889 tons or abt. 102,000 bbls in 10 coiled cargo tanks. Special features include a 12 million BTU self-heating system and crew accommodations for four persons.
Bollinger Returns after Gustav
Bollinger Shipyards returns 95 percent of its 14 locations back to work following Hurricane Gustav's plowing through the heart of the based shipyard community. According to Bollinger’s website, all but two locations are back up and running, with several locations on generators with supervisory staff only. The corporate office, located in , is on generators and is coordinating the efforts of the 3000 member workforce. Bollinger is working with the local and state authorities to insure the safe return of their employees and shipyard services to the Oil and Gas community, said Robert Socha, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. We are communicating with our employees over the web, via local radio, telephone and community interaction.
Bollinger Delivers Another Tank Barge to Bouchard
Bollinger Marine Fabricators (BMF), a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered B. No. 233, the second of two double hull, 35,000 barrel (BBL) oil tank barge units built to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA’90), to Bouchard Ocean Services, Melville, N.Y. The B. No. 233 is a manned, clean oil, oceans tank barge measuring 300-feet long, with a 64-foot beam and a depth of 21-feet. The barge has ten cargo tanks, with Byron Jackson cargo pumps, driven by John Deere engines.
ASA Welcomes New Members
At its recent Spring meeting, the American Salvage Association (ASA) welcomed a new General Member, 10 new Associate Members, and four new Corporate Associate Members to its ranks. The New General Member is Associated Marine Salvage, Inc., based in and led by Gordon Olson, Vice President. Eva Longobardi, Northeast Diving Services, Inc.
Bollinger, Bouchard Sign Deal for Three
Work in progress at one of Bollinger’s OPA’90 barge building facilities continues on schedule, as the backlog increases with the signing of two 60,000 and one 80,000 BBL offshore units for Bouchard. Bollinger Gretna, L.L.C., and Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., two Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. facilities, have signed contracts for new construction of three OPA’90 compliant tank barges, consisting of one (1) 80,000, and two (2) 60,000 barrel (BBL) units for Bouchard Ocean Services, L.L.C., Melville, N.Y.
Bollinger Delivers ATB Unit to Bouchard
Bollinger delivers the ATB unit, B. No. 282 and tug Ellen S. Bouchard, the second of two 80,000 BBL OPA’90 tank barges and retrofitted tug to Bouchard. Bollinger Gretna, LLC, Harvey, La., and Bollinger Algiers, L.L.C, two Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., facilities, have completed the new construction of the second of two 80,000 barrel (BBL) OPA’90 compliant tank barges, as well as the retrofit and conversion of a Bouchard tug, respectfully, to Bouchard Coastwise Management Corp., Melville, N.Y. The 80,000 BBL tank barge, B. No. 282, is a manned ocean, clean oil barge measuring 399-ft.
Bollinger, K-Sea Agree On Barge Construction Program
Bollinger Gretna, L.L.C., Harvey, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, and K-Sea Transportation Corp. of New York have signed a contract for the construction of four double hull, ocean service, OPA ‘90 oil barges. The barges will have capacities of 80,000 to 100,000 barrels. Terms were not disclosed. The barges will be built primarily for oil service on the Northeast U. S. coast. They will be coupled with existing K-Sea tugs using a connection system designed and delivered by Acomarin Engineering. The system will provide increased operating efficiency and will enhance the safety and reliability of the units. The new barges will feature double block cargo segregation, segregated ballast, cargo monitoring and vapor recovery systems as well as advanced electrical and hydraulic systems.
Construction Continues on New Bouchard ATB
Bollinger Gulf Repair L.L.C., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., shipyard, has completed the retrofit of a Bouchard Coastwise Management Co., tug and barge to an articulated (ATB) unit utilizing the Intercon Coupler System. The 446-foot, 125,000 BBL (barrel) black oil Barge B. No.175 which was renamed Barge B. No.275, was transformed from a single hull to double hull vessel to meet the requirements of OPA ‘90. Her stern was modified with the matching Intercon ladder to accept the bow of the 127-foot tug CAPT. FRED BOUCHARD, which was retrofitted with ram assemblies of the Intercon system.
Market Report: When Will the Turn Around Come?
It seems to be a soap opera without an end. "It is crazy…makes no sense at all," is a common observation. If you are in the oil and gas business, the number one question is, "When is the drilling going to pickup?" It is a question without an answer…at least through the first quarter of 2004. "Normally when prices are low and oil rises about $25 a barrel and gas goes above $2.50 per million cubic foot, everybody goes back to work," noted Roy Breaux, Jr., president of Breaux Bay Craft, Loreauville, La. a leading builder of crew/supply boats. "We drill ourselves out of recessions, but not this time, at least not yet" Breaux said. Breaux echoes the sentiment of almost everyone in the industry "The answer must lie in Houston because that's where the decisions on when to drill come…
MarAd Approves Six Transfers
The Maritime Administration approved six applications under section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended. · GlobalSantaFe Drilling Company has received approval to transfer four mobile offshore drilling units to Vanuatu registry and flag without change in the ownership of said Vessels. The 4,976-gross-ton GLOMAR MAIN PASS I was built in 1982 in Pascagoula, MS. The 4,976-gross-ton GLOMAR MAIN PASS IV was built in 1982 in Pascagoula, MS. The 4,473-gross-ton GLOMAR HIGH ISLAND IV was built in 1980 in Quebec, Canada. The 4,473-gross-ton GLOMAR HIGH ISLAND VIII was built in 1981 in Quebec, Canada. · General Metals of Tacoma, Inc., Tacoma, WA has received approval to sell the 4,562-gross-ton barge TWIN HARBOR II to B.
Bollinger Announces Myriad of Contracts at New Orleans Workboat Show
Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, La. has added a 220 class offshore supply vessel (OSV) to the company’s continually growing series of OSV’s that provide cargo capacities of much larger vessels while lowering operating costs. Scott Theriot, executive vice president, New Construction said, “Just as our 145 and 166-ft. class boats have capacities of larger OSV’s, this new 220 class has the cargo and drilling muds capacities of vessels up to 240-ft. MNM Boats of Golden Meadow, La., a subsidiary of C&G Boats, has signed a contract for the first of two new 220 designs and will take delivery of the first boat in October 2002 and the second vessel in January 2003.