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25 Sep 2023

Interview: Mike Complita, Elliott Bay Design Group

Mike Complita, Principal in Charge and VP of Strategic Expansion, Elliott Bay Design Group (Photo: Elliott Bay Design Group)

Mike Complita is going on 30 years in the maritime industry. Complita started work at Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) as an intern while attending the University of Washington in his hometown, Seattle. “And since that time, I've served in pretty much every role, from a technical and project management standpoint, all the way up to principal of our organization,” he said. Today, as Principal in Charge and VP of Strategic Expansion, Complita works alongside EBDG’s other principals to help guide the firm’s project managers…

11 Nov 2022

US Inland Waterways: Looking for Rainmakers

(Photo: Ingram Barge Company)

As 2022 moves into its final months, low water levels and drought form the basis of the news impacting inland waterways operators and barge companies. In the first week of October, numerous barges were reported grounded in the Mississippi River, particularly south of Baton Rouge. This has consequences: barge rates jumped 218% in St. Louis, compared to 2021.Low water was so severe that on October 7 Ingram Barge CEO John Roberts issued a force majeure notice (force majeure - unforeseeable…

22 Jun 2022

John Day Dam Storing Water to Minimize Lower Columbia River Flooding

(Photo: USACE Portland District)

Federal water managers are changing release and storage schedules at several Pacific Northwest dams because of a late season and strong atmospheric river that began June 9. Significant amounts of rainfall have fallen across the Columbia River Basin filling reservoirs and rivers.To assist in managing river stages at Vancouver, Wash., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division, is increasing storage behind the John Day Dam in Eastern Oregon. Where most dams on the Columbia and lower Snake rivers are “run of river” projects…

11 Jan 2022

Dry Bulk: Heavy Rains Disrupt Shipping in Southeast Brazil

© Caio / Adobe Stock

Heavy rainfall in southeastern Brazil has prompted miners including Vale SA to suspend some operations, they said on Monday, after downpours caused deadly floods in the northeast and threatened to delay harvests in the midwest.Rainfall is expected to remain heavy this week in most of top mining state Minas Gerais, after runoff closed roads and railways.The rains may also have contributed to the dramatic collapse of a canyon rock face in the state on Saturday, killing 10 people visiting a waterfall on boats.In the northeastern state of Bahia…

04 May 2021

Port of San Diego to Double Shore Power at Cruise Terminals

(Photo: Port of San Diego)

The Port of San Diego is doubling shore power capability at its B Street and Broadway Pier cruise ship terminals to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on and around San Diego Bay.The Board of Port Commissioners approved $4.6 million in funding for the project as well as various agreements related to equipment purchasing, construction and installment of additional shore power equipment that will allow two cruise vessels calling on San Diego to connect to shore power outlets at the same time.

04 Mar 2020

Better Blasting: Send in the Robots

(Photo: C&C Marine and Repair)

When designing and constructing a new blast and paint facility at its yard in Belle Chasse, La., C&C Marine and Repair set out to create a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly worksite that would deliver a high-quality product.Fifteen months and 131 barges later, C&C Marine has nearly doubled its capacity as the facility and its robotic blasting technology continually meet and exceed expectations, says Tony Cibilich, president and owner of C&C Marine and Repair, who sees a long list of benefits for customers…

21 Aug 2019

C&C Marine Celebrates 100th Barge Blasted

Photo: C&C Marine

Just nine months after opening their new Robotic Paint and Blasting facility C&C Marine and Repair has announced the blasting of its 100th barge. “We knew we had the capability to blast and paint barges quickly and efficiently, but what we’ve been able to accomplish in these first nine months has exceeded our expectations in both speed and quality of blast” says C&C Marine and Repair’s owner, Tony Cibilich. The 83,350 square foot facility can accommodate barges up to 320’x75’ and has the capability to blast and paint a standard 30…

13 Mar 2019

Ports of Indiana: Big Successes, with Big Projects in the Wings

Vanta Coda, CEO at Indiana Ports

For Indiana’s state-established, but autonomous Ports of Indiana, 2018 was a record setting year, both for system-wide numbers and among the three individual Ports. These consist of Burns Harbor, on Lake Erie; Jeffersonville, on the Ohio, across from Louisville, KY; and Mount Vernon, also on the Ohio River, about 140 miles downriver from Jeffersonville.Not only were actual numbers robust, but Port officials reported “unprecedented tonnage increases” within the three-port system.

06 Mar 2019

Salona Yachts Enters Green Zone

Croatian shipbuilder Salona shipyard decided to expand sailing boats gamma by entering the electric powered area of performance sailing.According to Finnish boat electric motor manufacturer Oceanvolt, the Salona 33, Salona 35 and Salona 380 will be optionally powered by its electric propulsion system.The manaufacturer of clean electric power & propulsion systems said that the sail drive motors are the most advanced patented technology and this alignment with Oceanvolt is a great step forward for Salona to a new era in modern ’green’ yachting.The yachts will be fully manufactured in Croatia and powered by an Oceanvolt electric propulsion system from Finland.

12 Dec 2018

Aramco Bags Galveston Bay Honor

The Galveston Bay Foundation recently honored the volunteer efforts of Aramco Services Company (ASC) with its “Guardian of the Bay” award. This award recognizes ASC’s “leadership, work, and commitment for the betterment of Galveston Bay.”According to a press note  the director of Public Affairs Abdulrahman A. Bayounis and Strategic Communications supervisor Alma S. Kombargi accepted the award on behalf of ASC.“ASC is proud to partner with the Galveston Bay Foundation to revitalize such a precious resource,” said Bayounis. “I would like to recognize the efforts of our ASC volunteers who come out year-after-year to give their time and…

07 Nov 2018

New Indoor Paint and Robotic Barge Blasting Facility

Photo: C&C Marine and Repair

LA based C&C Marine and Repair has announced the opening of their new indoor, climate controlled, Paint and Blast Facility. The 83,350 square foot facility can accommodate barges up to 320’x75’x20’ and will be able to blast and paint a standard 30,000 Barrel Tank Barge or two 10,000 Barrel Tank Barges in 7-10 days. The fully enclosed, climate-controlled facility is unaffected by inclement weather and allows for uninterrupted operation year round. “We modified technology that was being used to blast rail cars and containers and have successfully adapted the process to blast barges…

08 Oct 2018

US Delays New VGP Requirements Until March 2019

While waiting for the new Vessel General Permit (VGP) to be finalized, operators must file a Notice of Intent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prior to December 18, 2018 in order for vessels to continue to operate under their current VGP also after this date.According to a recent Regulatory Update published by the classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the EPA has further delayed the release its new Vessel General Permit (VGP 3.0).The proposed VGP 3.0 was originally scheduled to be issued for comment in late 2017 but is now expected to be made available in March 2019 - with at least a 30-day comment period.The VGP provides for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage for incidental discharges into U.S.

01 Oct 2018

Keehi Marine to Reduce Stormwater Discharge Pollution

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with Hawaiian repair yard Keehi Marine, Inc. to reduce pollution in its stormwater discharges to Keehi Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean.Acting on a tip it received from the public, EPA performed an inspection in April 2017 at the Honolulu boatyard and found accumulation of fine sediment and debris without controls that prevent stormwater and associated debris from entering stormwater discharges and flowing into Keehi Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. It was discovered that recent flooding at a covered work area indicating pollutants had washed offsite. From September 2016 to December 2017…

13 Sep 2018

Damen Supplies Submersible Dredge Pump in Brazil

(Photo: Damen)

Brazilian civil engineering contractor has taken delivery of a new submersible dredge pump for creating an access channel into the sea for a new power plant currently under construction.The Damen DOP150 dredge pump is now in operation, creating the access channel for a critical pipeline for the plant’s cooling system and when completed it will extend 600 meters out into the sea. Over the course of the project the DOP150 is expected to remove around 30,000 cubic meters of material.The Damen DOP150 is being used to extract sand in the surf zone, varying in density from loose to medium fine.

28 Jun 2018

Marine Shipping Sector Eyes LNG to Meet Clean Fuel Rules

With new global emissions standards looming, the marine shipping industry is increasingly looking at liquefied natural gas as alternative to high-sulfur bunker fuel, shipping and energy executives said at a global gas summit this week. Already used to fuel ferry fleets and cruise ships, LNG is gaining traction among freight and cargo shippers, despite a reluctance by the entrenched industry to make major changes. The stakes are high: the global shipping fleet now consumes about 4 million barrels per day of high sulfur fuel oil. "Ship owners are very conservative, they're generally a little slower to act... But it's going to happen," Peter Keller, chairman of SEA\LNG and executive VP of maritime firm Tote Inc, told Reuters at the World Gas Conference in Washington.

19 Jun 2018

Deutsche Bank Sells $1 Bln Ship Loan Portfolio

© kalafoto / Adobe Stock

Deutsche Bank is selling a $1 billion portfolio of legacy shipping loans to an entity owned by funds managed by Oak Hill Advisors and Varde Partners, it said on Tuesday.Reuters reported last week that the sale of the portfolio was imminent, as the bank draws a line under sour investments in the sector and starts a fresh push in transport lending.Deutsche Bank said it was not exiting ship financing."Following this disposal and other derisking strategies we have implemented, the…

12 Apr 2018

Ballast Water Regs: Difficult and More Difficult

As the U.S. Coast Guard tightens its BWTS compliance rules and more systems are approved, there are still many unanswered questions for operators finally looking to comply.It’s no secret among marine stakeholders that ballast water regulations remain a top concern at the start of 2018, and a confusing one, to say the least. Hence, if someone offers to sell you a clear, concise and complete ballast water instruction manual, move that email over to your spam filter right away. However…

30 Jun 2017

It All Flows Downstream

Omni Catamaran cleaning Chicago waterway (Photo: Elastec)

Oil spills, trash, debris, sediment, chemicals: how do we keep our waterways clean? If an oil spill happens on water, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90) has very clear rules on who is responsible for paying for cleanup costs. Most oil spills can be traced to the spiller – a pipeline owner, oil tanker, shipper, railroad or trucking company. “Pointing a finger” at the alleged party may be why this type of pollution is referred to as “point source.” If the oil spill is ruled an accident and the polluter is not legally responsible…

28 Jun 2017

Regulatory Growth Drives Search for Durable Lubricants

Photo: RSC Bio Solutions

Using HEPR solutions satisfies regulatory compliance, sustainability initiatives and performance demands. There are numerous factors that are driving global environmental regulatory growth and the growth in renewable lubricant technologies, such as natural resource constraints, standardizing requirements due to globalization, public opinion and pressure, increase in climate change concerns, new technologies, new evidence from research and overall growing Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) concerns…

08 May 2017

EALs Rise Up on Deck

The next critical area of consideration for the use of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants is on deck. What’s leaking into the water from your cranes and winches? Vessel fleets face an increasing number of environmentally-focused regulations, adding complexity to their operations and creating urgency around compliance. These regulatory requirements, however, do not offset an operator’s need for products that perform consistently well. With the right Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs)…

03 Mar 2017

Coral Reefs: A Unique Natural Resource

© vlad61_61 / Adobe Stock

Stony corals are marine invertebrates with somewhat unique life cycles. For the most part, they reproduce sexually, broadcasting gametes into the water. Often, an entire coral colony or reef will spawn on the same night. Coral may also reproduce asexually by producing genetically identical polyps. Fertilized gametes drift in the current until, hopefully, they alight on a hard surface like a rock suitable for attachment. The gamete then develops into a polyp, producing a basal plate that affixes itself to the hard surface.

01 Mar 2017

The Looming sVGP Deadline

Photo: Alexander Maksimenko

The sVGP and recent ballast water treatment system approvals create another headache for small vessel owners. Steve Candito provides a primer. The long delayed Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) legislation is scheduled to come into force on December 18, 2017. Despite some confusion and inconsistencies on this issue generally, there is currently no serious effort to delay the sVGP requirement. Thus, vessel owners should be preparing now for compliance. Although the deadline is still months away…

08 Feb 2017

Australia Probes Coal Spill near Great Barrier Reef

Coal has washed up in waters dangerously close to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, environmental authorities said on Wednesday, following an investigation into complaints of black dust on nearby beaches. Ship-loading facilities at the port of Hay Point, which ships tens of millions of tonnes of coal annually to export markets worldwide, are at the centre of the investigation by authorities in the northeastern state of Queensland. But it was too early to say if the Hay Point port was the source of the coal and fine dust that washed up on the nearby beaches of East Point and Louisa Creek, the state's environment minister, Steven Miles, told reporters. "The impact on marine life and the reef is likely to be quite localised," Miles added.

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