STATE OF ALASKA

State of Alaska Awards Program to RTM

The State of Alaska Dept. of Commerce and Economic Development awarded RTM Star Center a four-year contract for a simulator based marine pilot performance evaluation system. The Star Center program will be simulator-based and include training in shiphandling skills, the American Pilot's Association-approved Bridge Resource Management and Automatic Radar Plotting Aids. Alaska state-licensed pilots will train at the Ft. Lauderdale facility on its full mission 360 degree bridge simulator. They will develop increased competence in the skills necessary to recognize and break potential error chains that can lead to groundings, collisions and environmental damage. All pilots will become familiar with the Star Center simulator through participation in practice simulations. Following practice runs, a pilot would enter the simulator to be evaluated while conning a vessel through a transit to a port in the region in which he or she is licensed.

Ferry Funds Allocated

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) provides discretionary funding for the construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities. The TEA-21 includes a requirement that $20 million from FY 2000 be set aside for marine highway systems for use by the States of Alaska, New Jersey and Washington. The funds have been allocated as follows: $10 million for the state of Alaska, and $5 million each for New Jersey and Washington.

New & Notable:Alaska Awards Metlakatla Ferry Contract to Conrad

Conrad Industries emerged as the winner to build a new ferry for the high profile customers Alaska Marine Highway. AMH sees the signing as the ushering in of a new era in marine transportation for the community of Metlakatla with the signing of the contract. The new vessel will provide dedicated service between Metlakatla and Ketchikan, two of the Inside Passage's southernmost communities. Southeast Region Director, Bob Doll

Alaska Makes Ruling on Ferry Case

The Supreme Court of the State of Alaska ruled that the state has jurisdiction over crimes committed on board an Alaska state ferry, even though the ferry was located in Canadian waters when the crime was committed. In the instant case, defendant was charged with having committed sexual assault while the ferry was en route from Bellingham, Washington to Southeast Alaska. At trial, defendant argued that the court had no jurisdiction over the offense, as it occurred in another country

Capilano Designs 23-Car Ro-Ro Ferry

Capilano Maritime Design Ltd. has been awarded the design contract for a 23-car, 149-passenger Ro-Ro Ferry to replace the Bob Ellis currently being utilized by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough in Ketchikan Alaska. The vessel will be built at Alaska Ship & Drydock, Inc., also located in Ketchikan. The new ferry will be delivered to the State of Alaska in 2011. Principal Particulars: Overall Length    116.5 ft Breadth        48 ft

Derecktor Shipyards Awarded Contract For High Speed Ferries

Derecktor Shipyards was given the notice of intent to award by the State of Alaska the contract for the construction of the first two passenger/vehicle high-speed ferries for its Marine Highway System. The NGA design presented by Derecktor competed in a bid race that lasted several months and ended with the notice of intent to award going to Derecktor Shipyards. This project, funded by the Federal Government, allows the State of Alaska to link Sitka to Juneau with fast modern boats

Risk of Accidents in the Aleutian Islands

The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies issued a notice stating that its Special Report 293 – “Risk of Vessels Accidents and Spills in the Aleutian Islands: Designing a Comprehensive Risk Assessment” has been published.  The report recommends that a structured risk assessment be performed in two phases: (1) a preliminary risk assessment; and (2) a focused risk assessment.  In the interim

Horizon Lines Announces Organization Changes

Charles G. Raymond, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Lines, Inc. said several organization changes, key executive promotions and a realignment of senior management responsibilities. Effective September 1, 2007, Horizon Lines, Inc. is structuring its transportation and logistics operations under two wholly owned subsidiaries, Horizon Lines, LLC, and Horizon Logistics, LLC. Horizon Lines, LLC will continue as the nation's leading Jones Act container shipping

Doyle Joins FMC

On Tuesday, January 1, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed President Obama’s nomination of William P. Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner. Commissioner Doyle was sworn in on January 10, 2013. Today, a ceremonial swearing-in of Mr. Doyle took place at the Commission.   Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Doyle served over 20 years in the maritime and transportation industry holding senior positions in executive leadership and operations

Infrastructure for Alaska’s LNG and Other Resources

Trans Arctic Shipping Routes (TASR) It is time for the global maritime industry to push development of Trans Arctic Shipping Routes (TASR) and port facilities along Alaska’s northern coast. Not only for shipping goods from the Pacific to Atlantic and vice versa, but specifically to facilitate development of specialized ports for LNG exports from Alaska to global markets. Alaska has a limited maritime community mostly in the south: Southeast Alaska is a maritime community; South Central