SOUTHPORT MARINE

Philadelphia Port Development Plan

A plan is underway to develop the Port of Philadelphia into a major best-in-class East Coast container facility with the potential of employing some 175,000 people and handling more than 3.5 million containers annually. Two major American terminal operators and an investment firm have already expressed interest in developing and operating container handling facilities under the new port development plan. However, the entire development is being jeopardized by the proposed relocation of a 1,100-employee Food Distribution Center (FDC) on prime waterfront real estate. Maritime and port interests are lobbying politicians and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority to relocate the FDC away from the area. The FDC, which does not require waterfront access, would ultimately block the port's access to the three Class One railroads that convene near the site-a major and unique advantage for the port. During recent hearings Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell aides indicated he would reconsider the FDC relocation if legitimate operators showed interest in the Southport project. The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority commissioners indicated at their meeting on Friday, March 2, that they would work with port stakeholders before rendering a final decision. Pennsylvania State Rep. William F. Keller, a former longshoreman, has called the commercial port development "a dream for Philadelphia we have been anticipating for 30 years

Gladding-Hearn Delivers Cape Fear Pilot Boat

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, The Duclos Corporation, has delivered a new pilot boat, Cape Fear Pilot II, to the Wilmington-Cape Fear Pilots Association. The new launch, which shuttles pilots nine miles from Southport, N.C. to ships entering the Cape Fear River en route to the port of Wilmington, works alongside another pilot boat built by the Somerset, Mass. yard in 1974. Measuring 52 ft. (15.8 m), the all-aluminum boat was designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates of Boston and Gladding Hearn

Rochford Lauds Decision to Move Ahead on Channel Deepening Project

Governors Ed Rendell and Jon Corzine are to be commended for reaching an agreement to move forward on the Delaware River Main Channel (45-ft.) Deepening Project. This accomplishment is expected to propel regional port development and allow all Delaware River port facilities to competitively attract the emerging class of larger cargo vessels. Because of growing congestion problems experienced by West Coast ports, the reality today is that ocean carriers operating in the trans-pacific route

Gulf Oil Spill: Ships Face Few Delays

By Susan Buchanan As oil from BP's sub-sea well laps coastal Louisiana, most ships in the Gulf have avoided contact with the spill but owners fear that regulations will be tightened after the disaster, raising their costs. “We've seen no delays from the spill, and it hasn't affected the operations of any of our ships,” said Dean Taylor, president of Tidewater Inc. in late May. Four vessels owned by Tidewater, which is headquartered in New Orleans

SUNY Maritime College Admiral’s Scholarship Dinner

State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College’s annual Admiral’s Scholarship Dinner will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, on the College’s Throgs Neck, Bronx, New York campus.  The event will begin at 6:00 pm with a cocktail hour, followed by the awards dinner at 7 pm in Vander Clute Hall.   During the Admiral’s Scholarship Dinner, SUNY Maritime College will salute two Maritime graduates, Mark Barker, president, The Interlake Steamship Company

Pilot Boat Order for Gladding-Hearn

Cape Fear Pilots Association, Southport, N.C., has ordered a second St. John’s Class pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation.   This vessel has special meaning for Gladding-Hearn because since it will be the 400th boat built since the shipyard’s founding in 1955.  Delivery is planned for later this year. The new all-aluminum launch, with a deep-V hull designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates, measures 52 feet overall, with a 17-foot beam and a 4

Palfinger Marine Appoints DMW Marine as Distributor

Palfinger Marine announced that it has appointed DMW Marine, LLC as the North American distributor (partner) for Palfinger Marine Cranes. Palfinger/CranePower is the largest manufacturer in the world of knuckleboom marine cranes.

GE Marine, Ingeteam Marine Partnership

GE Marine, a unit of GE Transportation, signed a business cooperation agreement with the Marine division of Ingeteam, a company headquartered in Spain that specializes in electronic control system automation and application engineering in the marine, industry, railway traction and renewable energy fields. The agreement will include joint marketing, sales efforts and technology development in the marine space for a variety of vessels

Drew Marine Acquires Chemring Marine

Affiliates of Drew Marine (“Drew Marine”) have reached a definitive agreement with Chemring Group PLC (“Chemring”) to acquire Chemring’s maritime interests (“Chemring Marine” or the “Company”) for a cash consideration of £32 million, subject to standard closing adjustments.  Under Drew Marine’s ownership, the business will be named Drew Marine Signal and Safety (“DMSS”).   

AfrikDelta Marine Ltd, To Offer Marine and Offshore Services

For 10 years, the Jagal Group has been in partnership with Lamnalco Limited in Nigeria. This partnership was designed to meet the industry's need to provide a world class service and deliver on the local content and cabotage requirements. A new company has been established. AfrikDelta Marine Ltd (ADML).   AfrikDelta Marine Limited (ADML) is a wholly owned indigenous company and is backed by Jagal Group's 40 years of experience in fabrication, manufacturing