THE BIG ONE

Deep-Sea Tremors May Provide Early Warning

Predicting when large earthquakes might occur may be a step closer to reality, thanks to a new study of undersea earthquakes in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The study, reported in today’s Nature, is the first to suggest that small seismic shocks or foreshocks preceding a major earthquake can be used in some cases to predict the main tremors. Scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the University of Southern California (USC) report that some types of large undersea earthquakes may be predictable on time scales of hours or less. Earthquakes on land are generally not preceded by systematic immediate foreshocks and hence cannot be predicted as easily with the same methods. The research team, led by Jeffrey McGuire of WHOI, studied past earthquakes along five transform faults on the East Pacific Rise, where tectonic plates are spreading apart at a rate of more than ten centimeters or five inches a year. The team used data from sensors deployed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory that pinpointed the time and location of foreshocks and the mainshocks or larger earthquakes. "This is the first demonstration of good short-term predictability for big earthquakes," study coauthor Thomas Jordan of the USC Southern California Earthquake Center said. "Some scientists believe that earthquakes come on suddenly with no warning signs, and the big ones are therefore unpredictable

SENESCO Performs Facelift on NOAA’s Albatross IV

Most research ships don’t live to see their 40’s, and to approach 50 is almost unheard-of. But the Albatross IV is quite an exception to this maritime rule. Today, thanks to a recent overhaul at SENESCO’s repair facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, she is back at her home base in Woods Hole, Massachusetts preparing to head back out to sea for another 5-7 years of ocean exploration. The Southeastern New England Shipbuilding Corporation (SENESCO) began its a major overhaul on the

Iran Makes $100 B Oil Find, Major Companies Compete For Big Deals

Iran Makes $100 B Oil Find, Major Companies Compete For Big Deals Iran announced its biggest oil find in 30 years last week, a 26-billion barrel field discovered just as the country drives to revive exploration activities and foreign firms compete for big deals. Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said the oilfield in the prolific southwest Khuzestan province has the potential to produce up to 400,000 bpd. He said that development on the field, which is close to the Iraqi border

New Chinese Shipbuilder Unveiled

A new, bigger shipbuilder was unveiled in Dalian recently, as part of the restructuring of the city's shipbuilding industry, ShanghaiDaily.com reported. Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co was formed by the merger of Dalian Shipyard Co and Dalian New Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co. Dalian Shipyard, with more than a 100-year history, used to be one of China's big military shipbuilders. Dalian New Shipbuilding, established 15 years ago, was one of the country's biggest shipbuilders

New Barges for Short Sea City

The term short-sea shipping comes up aplenty these days, as the powers-that-be rediscover the practicalities and the economies of waterborne transport. The thinking is renewed and the interest revitalized, but for a lot of harbors nationwide it's deja vu. Take the island city of New York, and the multitudes of communities near and far that are joined to it by inland waters—the rivers, sounds, creeks, streams—all the way up to Albany, to Waterford and the Canal system

Ship Rechristened to Honor Former Congressman Oberstar

In his 47-year Congressional career, former Congressman Jim Oberstar has received many honors. But few are as big – literally – as the announcement that The Interlake Steamship Company will rename and rechristen one of its massive ships the MV Hon. James L. Oberstar this spring. The vessel will sail from layup in March as the MV Hon. James L. Oberstar, and will be rechristened in a ceremony at Duluth later this spring.  

Big Engine Creates Big Problems

Employees at a San Diego shipyard are trying to figure out how to get an engine the size of a large bus out of the sinkhole created by its fall. The engine destined for the Navy's USNS Amelia Earhart slid from the trailer transporting it to the National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. last week, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The 200-ton piece of machinery crushed three cars and broke a water main before settling. The problem is that the engine is also precision machinery and costs

Shipbuilding – China Hopeful to Double Output

Shipbuilding industry in China has growth potential, may double in 4-years China's shipbuilding industry may double its scale in the next four years on growth potential in sea transport and marine economy, and Shanghai is expected to play a big role toward meeting the goal. By the end of 2015, the market size of shipbuilders and marine equipment makers may hit 1.2 trillion yuan (US$190 billion) with the value of exports touching US$80 billion

Aker To Build AHTS for Farstad

Aker Yards has signed a contract worth $69 million to build an Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel (AHTS) for Farstad Supply AS, to be delivered in the summer 2007. Farstad Supply AS is wholly owned by Farstad Shipping ASA. The new vessel will be the most advanced within the Farstad-fleet. The 27,500-hp vessel will be one of the biggest and most advanced vessels within its segment.

TUI Orders 8 Container Ships

TUI AG has ordered eight container ships to expand its shipping division, AFX reported. The company said 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners from a previously announced order and 12 jets ordered by merger partner First Choice Holidays will create 'one of the biggest 787 fleets with the earliest delivery dates in Europe.' TUI in December said it had outstanding orders for 65 Boeing aircraft, including 24 previously ordered planes. Source: AFX