IVAN

Vision Technologies Systems Subsidiaries Report Minor Damage

Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. reported only minor damage at its Southern operations -- VT Halter Marine, VT Miltope and ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering -- as a result of Hurricane Ivan. Hurricane Ivan, a Category 4 storm, made land fall early Thursday morning just east of Mobile, Ala., where MAE is based, and which is located approximately 45 miles east of VT Halter Marine’s Pascagoula, Miss.-based headquarters. Ivan’s path inland tracked near Montgomery, Alabama, where VT Miltope is located. Following the Companies’ standard hurricane operating procedure plans, VT Halter Marine and ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering secured facilities and craft prior to closing Tuesday at noon in order to ensure its employees the time necessary to take the proper precautions to protect their homes and families. VT Miltope closed Wednesday at noon. While the damage to the northern Gulf Coast has been reported as extreme in many areas, the extent of the damage to VT Halter Marine, VT Miltope and ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering is minimal. The Companies intend to resume operations early next week.

Ships Collide

The Greek-flagged bulker/container vessel Ivan Susanin was reportedly involved in a collision on August 6 near Southwest Pass, U.S., with the Russian-flagged freighter Anangel Endeavour. The 23,202 dwt Anangel Endeavour was is in no danger of sinking but was holed in No.2 hold, which extends above and below the waterline. No damage has been reported to the 19,650 dwt Ivan Susanin.

Deep Sea to Supply Cuba with Generators

After winning a $1.7 million contract to supply technology to Cuba, Deep Sea Electronics, a North Yorkshire manufacturer of control systems for the power generation industry, will distribute more than 4,000 generators for the project which is expected take 18 months to complete. The systems will help alleviate Cuba's growing electricity problems, caused by lack of investment which has resulted in frequent blackouts and energy shortages – a situation made worse by Hurricane Ivan

Whale Watch: Improved Economy and Passenger Comfort

Ivan Reiff learned to love the marine world with his commercial fisherman father in Florida. Like many children of fishermen he went off to school and eventually found himself working for an electronics firm out in southern California. But the sea was, as they say, in his veins. His marine memories led him to the opposite corner of the country from Florida. Up in Washington State’s Puget Sound he found little San Juan Island and around the island he found the orcas and the Western

Maritrans Comments on Impact of Three Storms

Maritrans Inc., announced that following Hurricane Ivan, the Company's fleet is operating under regular conditions and servicing ports in both the Southeast and Northeast. The severe weather conditions caused by Hurricane Ivan as well as Hurricanes Charley and Frances resulted in temporary delays in service. Jonathan Whitworth, CEO of Maritrans, commented, "Consistent with Maritrans' commitment to adhere to the highest safety and environmental standards

Russia Floats Out Large Landing Warship

The Yantar shipyard in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad has floated a new large landing ship for the Russian Navy The $160-million vessel has a displacement of about 6,000 tons and will be able to carry up to 13 main battle tanks or 36 armored personnel carriers or 300 naval infantry troops. Along with Mistral-class amphibious ships being built in France, Ivan Gren class ships will form the core of the Russian Navy's landing forces.

Damaged Pipeline Recovered

Upon completion of the second successful pipelay, 22,000’ x 6” in the Ship Shoal area, BISSO MARINE pipeline division reconfigured the DLB BIG CHIEF to recover 14,000’ of 20” pipeline in the Main Pass area. The 20” pipeline, which was crossed by three trunklines, had been uncovered, kinked and moved about during Hurricane Ivan, leaving the line in a condition which prevented any opportunity to pig the pipeline prior to the removal.

Dennis is No Menace in GOM

By Larry Pearson Hurricane Dennis, a 140 MPH hurricane roared through the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico July 8-9 but caused little damage to oil platforms, drill rigs or to the shipyards in its path. In contrast, the 140 MPH Hurricane Ivan that traveled through the same waters last fall, caused extensive damage to platforms, rigs and especially to underwater pipelines. “It caused all of the worry, but resulted in none of the work of Ivan,” commented Dr

Transocean Semisub Missing After Ivan

Transocean Inc. announced that a search continues in the Gulf of Mexico for the deepwater semisubmersible Deepwater Nautilus in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. All personnel had previously been safely evacuated and the well was secured before the approach of the storm. The U.S. Coast Guard has been notified of the missing rig, which was moored to the seafloor with anchors and related equipment at its location approximately 160 miles south of Mobile, Alabama.

Fishing Vessel Abandoned off New Zealand, 43 Crew Rescued

The 64 m long fishing vessel 'Amaltal Columbia' was abandoned after a blaze started in the after part & spread throughout the vessel. All 43 crew of the 64m New Zealand fishing boat Amaltal Columbia, owned by Talley’s, have abandoned ship and been transferred to two other fishing vessels following a fire on board, approximately 70km north-east of Lyttelton Heads. A total of 39 members of the crew are now safely on board the Russian fishing vessel, the Ivan Golubets