PORT OF BROWNSVILLE

MarAd Moves Ahead on Ship Disposal

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced four new disposal contracts for obsolete ships in its National Defense Reserve Fleet. Two of the ships are in the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia, and two are in the Suisun Bay near San Francisco, CA. Three of the ships will be dismantled in Brownsville, TX, and one in Chesapeake, VA. “Our ship disposal policy of ‘worst first’ has worked for us,” said Deputy Maritime Administrator John Jamian. “We have cleared out the ships in the worst condition, most of which were in the James River. Now we can work ahead and dispose of ships before the situation becomes so critical.” The Santa Lucia, a 1966-vintage cargo ship, currently in the James River site, will be towed to the Marine Metal facility in Brownsville, under the terms of a contract worth $565,827; the Pawcatuck, a tanker built in 1946, also in the James River, will go to Bay Bridge Enterprises of Chesapeake, under a contract worth $569,373. A contract for $1,299,327 to dismantle the 1958-vintage tanker Connecticut, now at Suisun Bay, was awarded to International Shipbreaking, Ltd., of Brownsville; and ESCO Marine, also of Brownsville, was awarded a contract to tow and dismantle the Nemasket, a tanker built in 1942, for $1,224,100. “The removal of the Santa Lucia and the Pawcatuck is another positive step in the proper management of the James River Reserve Fleet,” Senator George Allen said

MARAD Recycles 3 More Ships

The U. S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has signed fee-for-service contracts to recycle three more of its obsolete ships. Two ships, the Hattiesburg Victory and the Pioneer Contractor, are from the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Texas, and one, the oiler Savannah, is from the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia. The Maritime Administration has moved 118 ships out of its National Defense Reserve Fleet sites since 2001

BP Marine and Houston Marine Team Up On Bunkering Venture

BP Marine and Houston Marine Services (HMS) are joining forces to begin a new chapter in ship bunkering in the western U.S. Gulf. Effective, April 2, HMS became BP's dedicated logistics provider in an area from Brownsville, Texas to Lake Charles, La. BP Marine will serve as the marketing arm for bunker sales on behalf of the joint venture and will supply bunker fuel across a broad geographic area of the Gulf.

81st Vessel Departs James River Reserve Fleet

The Gage departed the James River Reserve Fleet in transit to Esco Marine, Inc., in Brownsville, Texas for recycling.  The approximate travel time to Texas is 14 days.

This Day in Coast Guard History – Jan. 14

1942- A Coast Guard aircraft, Hall PH-3 No. V-177, dropped food to a raft with 6 survivors of a torpedoed tanker. 1985-Vice President George Bush made an official visit to Base Miami Beach to extend the thanks of the nation to those involved in Operation Hat Trick,  an "all-out" effort to stop smugglers soon after they had left ports in Central and South America.  The vice president decorated 15 Coast Guardsmen.

Texas, Virginia Companies Win Dismantling Contracts

According to a report from the Contra Costa Times, Ship recycling facilities in Texas and Virginia have been awarded dismantling contracts for three more Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet mothball vessels. Esco Marine, of Brownsville, Texas, was given the award to recycle the SS Dawn for about $551,000 and the USNS H.H. Hess for about $452,000. The SS Bay's $397,000 dismantling contract, has been awarded to the Bay Bridge Enterprises in Chesapeake, Va.

Scorpion Offshore Orders Two Rigs

Scorpion Drilling Ltd (Scorpion) has exercised its option to order two additional LeTourneau Super 116 jackups to be built at Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville, Texas. The contract price for the two rigs, excluding Owner Furnished Equipment, is approximately $180 million. The new units represent the third and fourth jackup rigs in Scorpion’s fleet. The first two rigs, which were secured in July 2005, are currently being constructed by Keppel AmFELS

Chiles Offshore Announces 4Q Results

For the quarter ended December 31, 2001, the Chiles Offshore reported net income of $7.6 million compared to net income of $4.4 million reported for the corresponding quarter ended December 31, 2000. Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2001, was $20.8 million compared to revenue of $16.8 million for the corresponding quarter ended December 31, 2000. For the fourth quarter they reported other income of $3.8 million relating to economic hedges regarding the anticipated future issuance

Coast Guard Captain Retires After 30 Years of Service

Capt. Kevin L. Marshall is presented with the Legion of Merit by Rear Adm. Robert F. Duncan during Marshall's retirement ceremony held at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans on March 31. Marshall has served as the Eighth Coast Guard District chief of staff since November 2004. His area of responsibility included all or parts of 26 states, from St. Marks., Fla., to the U.S./Mexico border at Brownsville, Texas, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes.

PetroCom Introduces New Technology for Offshore Industry

PetroCom LLC has begun construction and testing of the first digital cellular network in the Gulf of Mexico. Working with partners Siemens and Ericsson, PetroCom is introducing GSM technology to provide secure and high-speed communications for companies in the multi-billion dollar offshore industry. With offices in Houston, New Orleans and Lafayette, La., PetroCom is a cellular provider in the Gulf, with a coverage area stretching from Brownsville, Texas to Mobile, Ala