HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

Student-Built Robotic Boats to Compete

College Students from the United States and Canada will bring their robotic boats to Virginia Beach to compete for up to $20,000 in prize money. The event, the second International Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) Competition, is being sponsored by the U.S. Office of Naval Research and the Washington, DC-based Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Foundation. The competition will occur June 18-21 at the Founder’s Inn and Spa in Virginia Beach. The small lake on the resort’s property will be turned into the site of a simulated shipwreck of a ferry boat with passengers awaiting rescue. The student-built boats will be challenged to navigate a treacherous series of dangerous reefs and dock with the sinking ferry to rescue the passengers. Adding to the challenge, the rescue boat will have to defend itself against a group of pirates as it makes its escape! “The main point of this Competition is to make students aware of the challenges and fun of designing robotic boats and to hopefully get them interested in pursuing a career in this rapidly growing industry,” said Daryl Davidson, executive director of the AUVSI Foundation. “To the uninitiated observer who thinks these are remote controlled boats, it may look easy. But when you consider that once the boat leaves the dock, it has to make all of its decisions without any human assistance at all. That’s no small task.”

Hampton Roads Security Zone Proposed

The U.S. Coast Guard proposes establishing security zones around passenger vessels and vessels carrying certain dangerous cargo (CDC) while on waters of the Captain of the Port Hampton Roads zone. Comment on this proposal should be submitted by June 3, 2004. 69 Fed. Reg. 24549 (HK Law).

NNS Shipbuilder Volunteers Build House

Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division recently dedicated its 11th Habitat for Humanity house in Hampton. NNS has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg since 2002 to build homes for families in Hampton Roads. Ron Murray, NNS' vice president of quality and process excellence, presented the house keys to Shereen Wynder and her daughters, Shakira and Treasure. "While this house was built by the hands of shipbuilders

New Leadership at Fugro

Fugro GeoServices announced several recent promotions within the company, including two key management appointments: Ted Hampton, president and Adam Jackson, senior vice president. Mr. Hampton is a licensed geologist and former vice president of the company. He replaces longtime leader Mr. Tom Hamilton, who will retire this spring after nearly 30 years with Fugro. Together, Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Hampton led the formation of Fugro GeoServices in 1999 to provide oil and gas clients in the Gulf

Hampton Roads – Security Zones

The U.S. Coast Guard has established security zones around passenger vessels and vessels carrying Certain Dangerous Cargo (CDC) while they are in the navigable waters of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Hampton Roads zone. When within 500 yards of such vessels, other vessels must operate at the minimum speed to navigate safely. Other vessels may not operate within 100 yards of such vessels. The rule comes into effect immediately. 69 Fed. Reg. 40768 (HK Law).

Coast Guard and Fire Department Respond to Boat Fire

Six people were pulled from a burning boat in the vicinty of the mouth of the York River, Va. when the 52-ft. Hatteras they were on caught fire. Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads received a Mayday call from the QT. The Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and launched boats from Coast Guard Stations Milford Haven, Portsmouth and Cape Charles. Two boats, One Way and Miss Nancy responded to the UMIB and pulled all 6 from the QT before the Coast Guard arrived on

Northrop - Yslas Corp VP; Coyne Secretary

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) board of directors has elected Stephen D. Yslas, 61, corporate vice president and general counsel effective Jan. 1, 2009. Yslas succeeds W. Burks Terry who is retiring Dec. 31, 2008. In his new role, Yslas will be responsible for oversight of all of the company's legal matters. He will report to Ronald D. Sugar, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, and become a member of the company's Corporate Policy Council.

Rear Admiral Bennis Will Lead Maritime and Land Security at TSA

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta named Rear Admiral Richard E. Bennis, USCG, (ret.) as the Associate Under Secretary of Transportation for Maritime and Land Security at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Admiral Bennis, who led Coast Guard response in New York to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, will direct TSA exercise of security responsibilities for the nation’s seaports and land transportation assets

This Day in Naval History – Feb. 22

1865 - RADM Porter's gunboats' bombardment cause surrender of Wilmington, NC . 1870 - After arriving on USS Nipsic, and supported by USS Guard and USS Nyack, the Darien Expedition, commanded by CDR Thomas O. Selfridge, Jr., begins active operations ashore at Caldonia Bay to survery the Isthmus of Darien, Panama, for an interoceanic ship canal. 1909 - Great White Fleet returns from round the world cruise to Hampton Roads, VA

Northrop Grumman Partners to Build Offshore Wind Turbines

According to an October 6 report from the Daily Press, Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Newport News shipyard and Spanish energy firm Gamesa said they have formed a new partnership to produce offshore wind turbines. Northrop and Gamesa said they are assembling a team of up to 40 engineers in Hampton Roads over the next month to begin preliminary work on the project. Neither company would say where in the region the new venture will be located.