KAISER

Port of Tacoma to Purchase Kaiser Aluminum Smelter

The Port of Tacoma Commission has approved a contract with Houston-based Kaiser Aluminum to purchase the company's aluminum smelter located near the Port for an initial cash payment of $12.1 million. The transaction includes approximately 96 acres and related structures located approximately four miles east of downtown Tacoma in the Tideflats industrial area and adjacent to the Blair Waterway, which the Port is re-developing for container terminal use. The agreement is subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Subject to this approval, Port officials expect to close the transaction in the first quarter of 2003. Under the terms of the transaction, the Port of Tacoma will conduct any necessary demolition and environmental remediation that may be required. In anticipation of this potential cost, approximately $4 million of additional funds will be placed in escrow. Any portion of these escrowed funds not required to meet certain regulatory requirements will be paid to Kaiser as additional proceeds of the sale. "The Port has a successful record in the clean-up of industrial lands and putting them back into productive use," said Port of Tacoma Commissioner Clare Petrich. Activity at Kaiser's Tacoma facility was curtailed in 2000. When at full operation, the facility employed 350 and was capable of producing about 73,000 metric tons of aluminum annually. Most of the Kaiser employees are

MSC Ship Delivers BioFuels

Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187), which is currently providing logistical support for U.S. Pacific Fleet's biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise off Hawaii, will deliver 900,000 gallons of a 50-50 blend of advanced biofuels and traditional petroleum-based fuel July 17 to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) strike group. The fuel delivery is part of the Navy's Great Green Fleet demonstration, which allows the Navy to test

Biofuel Replenishment for 'Great Green Fleet'

USNS 'Henry J. Kaiser 'loads biofuel for RIMPAC 2012's Great Green Fleet Demo by the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187)  loads of 900,000 gallons of a 50/50 blend of advanced biofuels and traditional petroleum-based fuel at Defense Fuel Support Point, Manchester, Wash. Kaiser will deliver the biofuel to the platforms participating in the Great Green Fleet demonstration

Ex-USNS Vessels to Depart for Texas

The ex-USNS Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) and the ex-USNS Henry Eckford (T-AO-192) are scheduled to depart from the James River Reserve on July 12 and July 19, respectively. They will be towed to Brownsville, TX, for recycling at the ISL ship breaking facility. The vessels are the fifth and sixth ships built in the 18-ship Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet of replenishment oilers of the United States Navy. The two vessels were constructed at the Pennsylvania Shipbuilding Company in Philadelphia

NASSCO Awarded T-AKE 10 Funds

General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $100,000,000 fixed-price-incentive modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-02-C-2300) to exercise an option for long lead time material and associated labor for the 10th ship of the T-AKE 1-Class (T-AKE 10).The contractor will perform material sourcing, material ordering, vendor interface, and material quality assurance

BAE Systems to Overhaul Sealift Command Ship

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command to overhaul and drydock the USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195). The cumulative value of the contract could reach nearly $8 million if all options are exercised. The work will take place at BAE Systems Ship Repair in Norfolk and is expected to be completed by March 2007. As part of the 60-day overhaul package, BAE Systems' work will focus on inspection of oil tanks and spaces, engine room repairs and refurbishment

Cathelco Systems for Entire Navy Vessel Class

Cathelco have supplied marine pipework anti-fouling systems for a complete class of fleet replenishment oilers serving the United States Navy. The 14 Henry J. Kaiser Class vessels are operated by the Military Sealift Command and provide underway replenishment of fuel for U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. The final vessel in the series to be installed with a Cathelco system will be the USNS Patuxent a fleet replenishment oiler which was built at the

In Memoriam of Gurrad of MOL

John A. Gurrad, MOL (America) Inc.’s former Vice President for Business Planning and e-Commerce, passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Gurrad’s 37-year career in the shipping industry included 10 years at MOL as vice president in Concord, Calif. He joined MOL in August of 1998 and retired in October 2008. Gurrad was 68. Gurrad was a valued and highly respected member of the MOL Team, and directed MOL’s business planning activities

Cruise Ships Smarten Up in Bremerhaven

Three big cruise ships visit Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven AG in the coming days and weeks to be spruced up for the 2013 cruise season. The ships are the MS "Braemar" and the MS "Balmoral", belonging to new customer Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, and Saga Shipping Corporation’s MS "Saga Ruby", better known previously to the yard as Cunard’s "Caronia". In the meantime Cunard’s 294 m long, 90

New Navy Contracts

General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $940,378,173 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-02-C-2300) for two construction options (T-AKE 11 and T-AKE 12) which includes design and construction; technical manuals; special studies, analyses, and reviews; engineering and industrial services; and data and two options for Long Lead Time Material for T-AKE 13 and T-AKE 14