Class Sub

USS Miami Fire Damage Extent Not Clear Yet

 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers have pumped fresh air into the fire-damaged sub, allowing Navy investigators to begin the first damage assessment The fire aboard Miami damaged the torpedo room, crew quarters and command and control areas in the fore part of the submarine, but the nuclear propulsion components in the after part of the sub were not harmed. Vice Adm. Kevin M. McCoy, commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command, told Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, that he’s hopeful that the ship can be repaired. He said that many vital components escaped damage because they had been removed for the 20-month overhaul and that salvage parts are available from previously decommissioned Los Angeles-class subs. The intensity of the fire, the lack of lighting, the thick smoke and the metal hull that turned the submarine into an oven all contributed to a difficult blaze for firefighters to extinguish.  

Navy Names Fourth Virginia Class Sub

Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig announced his decision today to name the fourth submarine of the VIRGINIA Class for the state of North Carolina. "More than half a century has elapsed since a U.S. Navy ship has borne the name, "North Carolina," said Danzig. "With over 2,000 of North Carolina's sons and daughters having joined the Navy and Marine Corps this year, and more than 45,000 Sailors and Marines currently serving in the state

Navy Plans Call for 51 New Ships by 2011

A draft of the Navy's five-year construction program calls for the continued building of one Virginia-class submarine a year, despite pressure from Connecticut's congressional delegation to boost production to at least two subs annually. The draft report calls for an overall $69 billion construction budget for the Navy through fiscal year 2011, including nearly $16 billion for five new subs, which are being jointly built by the Groton-based Electric Boat shipyard and the Northrop Grumman

VT Halter Launches Ferry

VT Halter Marine Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems Inc., launched a 95-foot sea-going ferry from its Mississippi-based Pascagoula Operations. Christened the Caribeña, the all-aluminum vessel was designed and built by VT Halter Marine for the Puerto Rico Port Authority. Capable of carrying 272 passengers, the Caribeña will provide inter- island transportation for the Fajardo-Vieques-Culebra Ferry Line. It will be U.S. Coast Guard classed sub-chapter “K” and U.S. flagged

Navy Awards $14b for 8 Virginia-Class Subs

On Dec. 22, the U.S. Navy reaffirmed the strategic need for a robust, adaptable submarine force by awarding General Dynamics Electric Boat a contract valued at $14b for the construction of eight Virginia-class submarines. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD). The multi-year contract allows Electric Boat and its teammate, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, to proceed with the construction of one ship per year in 2009 and 2010

Russia Soon to Float Out New Nuclear Submarine

Russia’s Sevmash shipyard will float out a third 'Borey-class' strategic nuclear submarine, the 'Vladimir Monomakh' at year's end. The Borey class submarines are expected to form the core of Russia's strategic submarine fleet, replacing the aging Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 class (Delta-3 and Delta-4) boats. Russia plans to build eight Borey and Borey-A class subs by 2020, reports Ria Novosti.

LR's Gavin Addresses Substandard Shipping

"The loss of the Erika has focused the legislators, politicians, classification societies, owners, charterers and the media on the responsibilities of the individuals involved with the operation of ships and those that perform the inspections to maintain safety", said Alan Gavin, Marine Director, Lloyd's Register (LR), speaking at the Tanker Safety Conference, London, recently. "The classification surveyor plays a significant role in helping to ensure safety at sea within the scope of class

Star Bulk Updates Employment Status of Star Beta

Under the related time charter agreement, ICI was obligated to pay Star Bulk a gross daily charter hire rate of $106,500 until February 2010. In turn, ICI sub-chartered the vessel for one year to Oldendorff Gmbh & Co. KG of (Oldendorff) at a gross daily charter hire rate of $130,000 until February 2009. ICI has assigned its rights and obligations under the sub-charter to Star Bulk in exchange for it being released from the remaining term of the ICI charter.

Inquiry into Russian Sub Tragedy

According to a report from the Associated Press, Russian officials reported that the Russian Akula-class submarine was undergoing sea trials Saturday with 208 people aboard when its fire-extinguishing system activated in error, spewing Freon gas that suffocated the victims and injured 21 others. With little official information emerging yet about the precise cause, experts said overcrowding and human errors may have contributed to the accident and the casualty toll aboard the Nerpa on Nov

UK Warships in Multinational Gulf of Oman Exercises

Royal Navy duo in multinational anti-sub exercise Two British warships joined those from the USA, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan - including an old Royal Navy favourite - for the war games in the Gulf of Oman.

 In the seemingly ever-present haze of the Gulf region, a Trafalgar Class submarine (T-boat) and an approximate American counterpart, USS Pittsburgh, led a seven-strong naval task group as the exercise drew to a close.