ON THE ROAD

USCG and USN Open Harbor Operation Center in Hampton Roads

The Coast Guard the U.S. Navy opened the Hampton Roads Sector Command – Joint Harbor Operations Center (SCC-JHOC) on March 24. The SCC-JHOC combines detection capability and command and control functions of Coast Guard and Navy entities within the Port of Hampton Roads. The mission of the Coast Guard and Navy personnel is to detect, monitor, and track vessel movements, critical port infrastructure, and militarily essential waterways in the port area. The staff will assume tactical control and coordination of responding law enforcement agencies during suspected and actual maritime security threats or incidents. The SCC-JHOC will be used as a model at other sector command centers. Source: HK Law

Rail-Barge Service from Eastern Shore to Resume

Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that the Bay Coast Railroad Car Barge will resume service next week as a result of a partnership between the Commonwealth, area localities, and the Bay Coast Railroad.  The barge, which was removed from service last year, provides connecting service between the Virginia’s Eastern Shore and Norfolk/Virginia Beach. Last year, the Bay Coast Railroad suspended service on the barge when it identified $1 million in structural deficiencies critical to

New Ferry Gets Volvo Penta Engines

The car ferry Venus, which recently entered traffic, is the Swedish Road Administration’s most modern ferry and the first in a series with a distinct environmental profile. The propulsion engines onboard are modern Volvo Penta low-emission engines equipped with catalytic converters and particle filters. The high efficiency of the engines results in low fuel consumption and good performance. The Road Administration’s ferry unit, with slightly more than 60 ships

Hampton Roads Receives Rescue 21

The Coast Guard's Rescue 21 Acquisition Project will hold an acceptance ceremony and demonstration at Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads. Rescue 21 is the Coast Guard's critical command, control and communications acquisition project, offering cutting edge technology to mariners nationwide.  The system is the backbone of the National Maritime Distress and Response System, a maritime version of 911 that allows the boating public

Nav Safety Advisory Council Seeks Applicants

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking applications for membership on the Navigation Safety Advisory Council (NAVSAC). NAVSAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on issues related to the prevention of collisions, rammings and groundings, including, but not limited to Inland and International Rules of the Road, navigation regulations and equipment, routing measures, marine information, diving safety and aids to navigation systems.

Louisiana Port Wary of Next Hurricane

The only road in and out of Port Fourchon, Louisiana, the main U.S. staging point for deepwater oil and natural-gas production, sits just 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 centimeters) above the marshland. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita largely spared the road, Louisiana Highway 1, because neither struck Fourchon directly. According to Bloomberg, officials are worried that the upcoming hurricane season, beginning June 1, might play out differently

Bow Mariner Investigation Completed

The investigation of the Feb. 28, 2004 sinking of a chemical tank ship off the coast of Virginia has been completed. A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday January 3, 2006, at 10 a.m. to be held at Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads at 200 Granby Street, in Norfolk. The speaker will be Capt. Robert O' Brien, Captain of the Port of Hampton Roads. He will be accompanied by Jerry Crooks, Chief of Investigations at Sector Hampton Roads.

Learning 'Rules of the Road': New Graphics Method

NavTeach.com offers leading edge memory graphics method of effectively learning the USCG Navigation Rules of the Road. Total recall of the complicated and often misunderstood navigation rules of the road for mariners is achieved by remembering certain pictures and data in a set order and sequence. No matter what type of vessel the obligation for the operator to know these rules is mandatory and required for both State and USCG license.

GAC Pindar Deliver Large US-built Motorboat to NZ

GAC Pindar in J/V with global freight forwarder TNL International, deliver a 7.6 mt Stamas boat from Georgia USA to Aukland, New Zealand. The privately owned motorboat, which is 3.93 metres high and 12.58 metres long overall, was handled with care for its 15,000km voyage. Before being loaded onto a ship bound for Auckland at Savannah, Georgia, it was shrink-wrapped and cradled on a special mafi trailer. Once the craft arrived in New Zealand

Churchill Drilling Tools Invests £2.5 Million

Drilling systems specialist Churchill Drilling Tools has announced a £2.5 million investment in its Aberdeen base to meet increasing global demand for its innovative technologies.   The company has invested in a number of units adjacent to its existing Crombie Road premises to create a 1.65-acre site, which will be upgraded over the next 3-4 years. The refurbishments will include research and development facilities