SUNSET BAY
Cutter Sweetgum To Be Decommissioned
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sweetgum will be decommissioned after nearly 60 years of service in a ceremony scheduled Wednesday, September 19, at 2:00 p.m. at Coast Guard Group Mobile in Mobile, Ala. The Sweetgum was commissioned into the Coast Guard November 20, 1943, and was briefly homeported in Grand Haven, Mich. The Sweetgum moved to Mayport, Fla., September 1, 1946 where it proudly served for years 44 years. While stationed in Mayport, the Sweetgum was responsible for maintaining 333 buoys and structures from Kings Bay, Ga., to the Bahamas. In the winter of 1977, the Sweetgum was ordered north to open up shipping routes, free frozen-in-ships, and help clean up a 400,000 gallon oil spill in New York’s Hudson River. In 1986, the Sweetgum was temporarily decommissioned on February 2, 1990, to enter the Coast Guard’s Service Life Extension Program for aging buoy tenders. It was then thoroughly renovated at the USCG Yard in Curtis Bay, Md. The ship arrived at its new homeport of Mobile on December 1, 1991, and was formerly commissioned on January 10, 1992. In addition to maintaining 120 aids to navigation, the Sweetgum assisted in the Sunset Limited Amtrak bridge accident recovery in 1994, and provided disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricanes Opal in 1995, Danny in 1997, Earl and Georges in 1998, and Bret in 1999. The Sweetgum’s priority is search and rescue. Its primary mission, however, is maintaining aids to navigation
Opera on PortSide Tanker in Container Port
As part of PortSide NewYork’s efforts to raise awareness of, and appreciation for, the waterfront and working waterfront in the Port of New York, Puccini’s opera Il Tabarro set on the tanker home of the Mary Whalen, in a working container port will be performed by Vertical Player Repertory and hosted by American Stevedoring, the operators of the Red Hook container port in Brooklyn. The tanker is the stage; the audience sits on the pier.
Yacht Charters in Hawaii
One of the often overlooked ways to enjoy a vacation to Hawaii is to charter a luxury yacht for a private cruise. There are many options for boat rentals in Hawaii, but they are typically old, rusty boats that are jam packed with tourists. Not exactly the best way to enjoy paradise. Luckily, there is an alternative. There are a number of luxury yachts in Hawaii (especially on the island of Oahu) that can take you for a private cruise far away from the sunburned hordes
Alameda’s Newest Eco-Friendly Ferry, Pisces
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) and the City of Alameda today announced that starting June 8, Alameda Harbor Bay ferry riders will be treated to a daily ferry commute onboard Pisces, the Bay Area’s newest ferry. Pisces’ interior design responds to Bay Area commuters' desire for convenience and comfort. The ferry has several seating options to maximize passenger comfort, plus room for 34 bicycles
Icebreakers Break into Action
With ice forming at a rate that suggests the first “normal” winter shipping season in several years, Coast Guard officials have icebreakers working in disparate locations this week, according to a report on www.sooeveningnews.com. For now, two Bay-Class tugs, Katmai Bay and Biscayne Bay are working the ice in largely unfamiliar waters at Thunder Bay, Ont. and at Serpent Harbor, Ont. located at the northern end of Georgian Bay. Biscayne Bay, based at St
BC Ferries Commissions Second PacifiCat
BC Ferries' second fast ferry, PacifiCat Discovery, was officially commissioned at a ceremony attended by Gordon Wilson, minister responsible for BC Ferries; Michael Francis, chair of BC Ferries' board of directors; and Bob Lingwood, president and CEO. The second PacifiCat delivers considerable cost savings and construction efficiencies compared with the first PacifiCat. Discovery was completed eight months faster and cost $10 million less than the first vessel.
One PacifiCat Delivered; One in Dry Dock
Following a phasing-in period last year, PacifiCat Explorer became the first vessel out of Departure Bay in the morning, and the last one out of Horseshoe Bay at the end of the day. Now, BC Ferries has brought PacifiCat Discovery, its second fast ferry, into action on the crossing between Nanaimo and West Vancouver. As Discovery was delivered, Explorer went into dry dock for scheduled maintenance work. Pacificat sailing times will change because Discovery will be the lead vessel out of
Blount Boats Awarded Contract for Casco Bay Ferry
Blount Boats, Inc. has been awarded a contract by the Maine Department of Transportation to build a 110-ft passenger ferry for the Casco Bay Island Transit District. The design specifications are similar to the Aucocisco III, which were developed by Seaworthy Systems. The proposed 399 passenger, Sub-Chapter K vessel will operate year round ferry service to islands in Casco Bay, Portland, Maine. The vessel will be equipped with electronically controlled diesel engines that meet the latest
Owners of Oil Spill Tankship Reach $1.96-million Settlement
Owners of tankship 'Dubai Star' reach settlement in civil suit brought by San Francisco, Oakland Dept. of Fish & Game Bay area East Bay beaches and birds took the brunt of the damage, but the Dubai Star spill was also bad news for crab fishers says SF Weekly. The owner and operator of a tanker that spilled oil in the bay has agreed to a $1.96 million settlement with San Francisco, Oakland and the California Department of Fish and Game.
Landmark Bridge Opens in Singapore
Singapore’s new landmark bridge at the southern waterfront, Keppel Bay Bridge, was named and opened by His Excellency S R Nathan, President of Singapore. Keppel Bay Bridge was opened by the President in a grand light-up ceremony involving spectacular pyrotechnics across its 250-m span, witnessed by more than 300 guests gathered at the waterfront promenade at the Reflections at Keppel Bay show gallery. “This new landmark bridge forms part of the masterplan and infrastructure to
Duma Looks Deep Down for Energy
US's Duma Energy Corp. says it has received new 3D seismic data in its search for deeper oil reserves in its Galveston Bay producing fields. This new data, which covers three of Duma's fields in Galveston Bay, is part of a broader effort by several other large independent oil companies to
Maersk Floats First Tripple-E
A milestone was reached with the semi-launch of the first Triple-E at the shipyard in Okpo, Korea. To make room for completing the next ships, the drydock was filled with water and the partially completed hull towed into the bay. A bulkhead wall sealed off the end to keep this half ship dry
Two Vessels Grounded off Scotland Coast
Two ships ran aground Tuesday off the west coast of Scotland, according to Herald Scotland. The first vessel, the 87-meter passenger cruise vessel Serenissima, was lodged on sand and gravel at a spot known as the Corran Ledge in Oban Bay Tuesday night as it made its way from Ireland to the port
Passenger Ship Grounded off Scotland Coast
The passenger ship 'Serenissima' grounded Monday night in Oban Bay, was refloated the next day & awaits underwater inspection. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported that the Stornoway Coastguard was alerted and was told that the ship had ran aground on sand and gravel
Coast Guard Patrols with New RB-S II Vessel
Most people who encounter the Coast Guard near shore will get a good look at a Response Boat-Small (RB-S). With more than 400 boats in operation, the RB-S is the largest vessel class in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The boats are in constant use
MOL Completes Containership Collision Drills
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced the completion of a tabletop drill done in cooperation with the fifth Regional Coast Guard Headquarters. The scenario entailed a containership operated by MOL Liner Division (Hong Kong) and managed by an MOL Group ship management company (Hong Kong)
Escort Tugs in San Francisco Bay
Providing Tugs For the Intricate Escort Regulations Of SF Bay Responding to the oil spills of the Exxon Valdez in 1989 and the American Trader in 1990, California enacted the Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act (OPA 90)
Subsea 7 Wins GofM Pemex Contract
Subsea 7 S.A. announce a contract award by Pemex to its Mexican joint venture valued at approximately US$90-million. The contract comprises the engineering, fabrication and installation of an 8km pipeline, related risers, two slug catchers (a slug catcher is a storage vessel used to separate oil
Great Lakes Shipyard Contracted for USCG Cutter Repairs
Great Lakes Shipyard hauled out the United States Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay (WTGB-105) using its 770-ton capacity Travelift. The repair contract, awarded to the Shipyard in early March, includes routine drydocking and underwater hull maintenance such as inspection and testing of propulsion
MARAD Deputy Matsuda Resigns
David Matsuda, the U.S. Maritime Administrator, announced that he is stepping down. In a statement released by Marad spokesperson Kim Strong, Matsuda's career highlights and accomplishments were also listed. The statement reads as follows:
Russia's Gazprom to Step Up Arctic Drilling
Under increasing pressure from competitors & the authorities, the Russian gas major is stepping up exploration & drilling in Arctic waters. A total of four wells were drilled and 3000 square km of 3D seismic mapping was conducted in the years 2011-2012 resulting in an increase in
Logistics in Action: Keeping Cargo Moving
Although much of the country is welcoming spring and the warm weather that comes with it, many of the Great Lakes waterways are still laden with ice. Coast Guard icebreaking tugs continue to work on the lakes to keep critical shipping lanes clear for merchant vessels
Somali Pirates to Face Trial for American Murders
On June 3, 2013 the United States begins a capital murder trial against three alleged Somali pirates, accused of killing four Americans at sea. If convicted, the defendants could be sentenced to death. While more pirates are being convicted in courts around the world
This Day in U.S. Naval History: May 1
This Day in Naval History - May 1 1898 - Battle of Manila Bay, Adm Dewey defeats Spanish at Manila, Philippines Before dawn on May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey's flagship Olympia led seven U.S. Navy cruisers and gunboats into Manila Bay
DuraPoly Delivers Plastic Workboat to Back Bay Marine
DuraPoly Boats delivered a 10'x32', 100% plastic powerhouse workboat to Back Bay Marine Service. It features a tunnel hull design, a 5,000 crane, is powered by twin 200 Yamaha motors, attains a top speed of 40mph and can run in 12 inches of water.