MARINE OPERATORS

Sea Tow Expands SeaSmart

Sea Tow Services International Inc., announced the expansion of its Sea Smart VHF service offering. Sea Smart VHF will be available throughout Florida’s Southeast coast, from Jupiter Inlet to Islamorada. The service is already available throughout the West Coast of Florida and in the Northeast from Cape Cod, Mass., to Cape May, N.J. Thecommunications service, launched at the 2006 Miami International Boat Show, utilizes boaters’ existing equipment to provide an application for their DSC-enabled VHF: a reliable communications connection on the water. Sea Smart’s marine voice and data network is comprised of coastal high site radio towers that connect, via RoIP, to a national operations center manned by professional marine dispatchers and licensed captains 24-hours a day. The subscription-based service includes Automatic Vessel Location (AVL), trip tracking, position plotting, unlimited direct-to-shore local and long distance calls and 24-hour marine operator assistance.

Engine Oil Analysis Kit Launched

Jet-Care International and its parent company Spectro Oil Analysis Co. Ltd. introduced a new engine oil analysis kit and service for the marine market that can save long delays and expensive repairs. "With proper monitoring of oil and fluid systems, marine operators can significantly reduce wear caused by contamination from sea water, fresh water, fuel dilution or the use of incorrect lubricants and save long delays and expensive repairs," says Spectro chief chemist Colin Stevens-Hoare

Catamaran Ferry Delivered to Coastal Fast Ferries

Incat Crowther launched Kilimanjaro IV, a 45-meter passenger ferry for the African Operator Coastal Fast Ferries. The vessel capitalizes on the rapid growth in the operator’s passenger numbers, bringing the Coastal Fast Ferries’ fleet to seven Incat Crowther-designed vessels. A process of close cooperation between the builder, Richardson Devine Marine, operator and designer resulted in a vessel offering high speed, high passenger capacity and rugged efficiency.

DHS Awards $200K Grant to Cal Maritime

The California Maritime Academy Department of Sponsored Projects and Extended Learning (SPEL) has received a federal Homeland Security grant of $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) administered through the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA). The funds will support curriculum development and delivery of DHS-approved training courses to California emergency responders and maritime industry professionals

Eastern Shipbuilding Delivers Spirit River

TRICO Marine Operators, Inc., recently took delivery of 232 ft. Spirit River, constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, of Panama City, Fla. Measuring 232 x 48 x 16 ft., Spirit River is equipped to offer a variety of services, and is distinguished by its shallow draft, which allows the vessel to operate out of all the Gulf of Mexico ports. Spirit River and soon-to-be-delivered sister ship, Hondo River were both built to the highest standards of USCG

Shipping Lines Estimate Costs to Rise

Bloomberg reported that Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. and 11 of the largest shipping companies plying the Pacific Ocean said costs of moving cargo to the U.S. in 2006 will rise 7 percent on higher fuel prices, which may spur them to raise freight rates. The cost of transporting containers by trucks and railways will increase as much as 25 percent, the 12-line Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, whose members ship about 70 percent of trans-Pacific trade, said in a statement today.

MTU Displays Latest Iron Men Engine

MTU Detroit Diesel will feature three of its most popular marine engines – the Series 4000, Series 2000 and Series 60 – at the International WorkBoat Show, booth #621, in New Orleans, December 1–3, 2010. As part of the WorkBoat Professional Series, a representative from MTU will be participating in a panel discussion about predictive and preventive maintenance. MTU will also be highlighting its control systems, genuine parts and service products at the show.

Report: Clean Diesel Power Key to Industry’s Success

Diesel powers the American economy — including almost the entire commercial maritime fleet. This is the conclusion of an extensive study conducted by Charles River Associates and released by the Washington-based Diesel Technology Forum. In addition to cargo ships, tankers, tugs, and towboats, diesel powers 94 percent of all freight shipments, 85 percent of all public transit buses, two-thirds of all farm equipment, and all heavy construction equipment

New Simulator Helps Train Louisiana Mariners

The latest plank in the ongoing effort to produce and maintain well-trained mariners was unveiled at Delgado Community College recently. The college now boasts a new Navi Trainer Professional 4000 full mission ship simulator, which currently simulates 10 vessels and five ports. By training on the simulator, mariners are tested on their abilities to make decisions in very realistic situations on a vessel. Acquiring the $300

Unitor E-Commerce Procurement Goes To Sea

Unitor's 4,500 international shipping customers now have a ready made solution for e-commerce procurement available. The solution makes it possible to electronically purchase Unitor products and services from vessels at sea or from the owner's office. Unitor and SpecTec's free and independent marine procurement portal, e4marine, has now opened the industry's first vessel-based e-commerce procurement solution following trials with the Baltic ferry operator Silja Line.