Ghost Fleet
Another Ship to Leave Ghost Fleet
The Daily Press has reported that MarAd is scheduled to tow away another obsolete ship from the James River Reserve Fleet, which sits off the coast of Newport News, Va. The Saugatuck is a former Navy oil refueling vessel built in 1942. It's the 52nd ship to leave the fleet since 2001. Bay Bridge Enterprises in Chesapeake will dismantle the ship. Source: Daily Press
More Ships to Leave Ghost Fleet
Two more ships are leaving the James River, headed for disposal facilities in Virginia and Maryland, in what has become a regular occurrence since the Bush Administration took over management of the nation’s ship disposal program five years ago, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced. The Howard W. Gilmore is scheduled to leave the James River Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis on Thursday, making it the 50th ship to leave the river since January 1, 2001
More Ghost Fleet Vessels to be Removed
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) today announced a contract award for the disposal of obsolete ships in the James River Reserve Fleet. Post-Service Remediation Partners (PRP) of New York will be awarded a payment of $14.8 million to remove a total of 15 ships from the James River Reserve Fleet. This is the largest removal of obsolete ships in a single year from the National Defense Reserve Fleet since 1993. "As stewards of the environment
MarAd: Calif. Ghost Ships are Safe
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) says World War II-era ships are safe to move from Suisun Bay, Calif., to Texas scrap yards, a report said. The U.S. Department of Transportation six years ago found the 77 ghost ship at Walnut Creek, Calif., 'an immediate environmental threat.' However, acting Maritime Administration Director Julie Nelson last week insisted the ships are safe enough to move. Nelson`s visit was in response to a request by Knight Ridder reporters who were refused
Government May Recall Ghost Ships
The government may bring an end to the Ghost Ships by recalling them, reports the Northern Echo. Reclamation company Able UK has been battling for more than three years to carry out an 11m deal to scrap 13 former US Navy ships at its site on Teesside. Now MarAd has temporarily halted its ship-scrapping program and ordered a review of the Able UK contract. Source: Northern Echo
Able U.K. Wins Ghost Ship Battle
The scrapping of so-called ghost ships on Teesside looks likely to go ahead, reported the BBC. Able U.K. won a contract with the U.S. government to dismantle up to 13 vessels at its Hartlepool yard, and four ships arrived in late 2003. But delays caused by environmental and planning concerns prevented any work. Hartlepool Council has now removed the final hurdle, by admitting it can no longer block planning permission.
Danger on the High Seas
A tale of survival could best describe John S. Burnett's experience onboard his sloop Unicorn in January 1992. Sailing solo across the South China Sea to Singapore - one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world - Burnett was attacked by pirates. However, with luck on his side, Burnett, who is a journalist and professional seaman, survived. Following this harrowing experience, Burnett was prompted to investigate further the world of modern-day piracy - world that is as shocking as it is
Global Inmarsat Fleet Service Launched
On April 1, Xantic became the world’s first company to offer the new maritime Inmarsat Fleet 77 service globally. It is also the first provider to have its service commercially approved for global operations by Inmarsat. It is the service’s availability via the company’s Burum (Netherlands) and Perth (Australia) Land Earth Stations that allow Xantic to become the first LESO to offer a fully global Inmarsat Fleet service, spanning all four Inmarsat ocean regions
SeaKits Releases V3.0 for Fleet Maintenance Support
SeaKits, the developer and provider of the Marine Maintenance System (MMS), has released Version 3.0 of MMS Fleet Solutions providing expanded functionality for workboat fleets, including passenger, tow and service vessels. MMS Fleet Solutions V3.0 provides Port Engineers, Maintenance Managers, and company executives with fleet-level visibility of all planned and corrective maintenance activities including maintenance schedules/forecasts, work orders, and inventory levels
Project to Clean Up North Pacific Garbage Patch
Now in its fourth year, Project Kaisei has come to rely upon satellite communications for effective communication with colleagues ashore as well as its global support base. Mary Crowley talks about how the project’s requirements for communications are continuously evolving. In the digital age it is easy to take for granted the benefits that reliable connectivity provides. In the maritime industry alone, always-on communications are supporting a wealth of applications to improve
ABB Wins Long-Term Service Agreement
Long-term service agreement improves lifecycle cost control and fleet reliability. ABB signed a long-term Preventive Service agreement with China LNG Shipping International Co. Ltd (CLSICO) to provide maintenance services to all ABB equipment onboard of its six LNG vessels in the next five years
Training Vessel for Royal Navy of Oman Constructed at Damen
The Ministry of Defense in Oman has awarded Damen Shipyards Group a contract for the construction of a Sail Training Vessel (STV). The 87-metre square rigged, three-masted steel clipper and will take up her role as flagship. In addition to its key role of training young Omani navy cadets and
"Most Powerful" Rescue Vessel Commissioned
Aberdeen-based standby vessel operator Atlantic Offshore Rescue said it has commissioned what will be the U.K.’s most powerful emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV). The Ocean Troll – which recently completed a long term charter with Statoil – has undergone a £2
DRS Contracted to Continue USCG Maintenance
DRS Technologies, Inc. announced it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to continue its maintenance, repair and overhaul work at the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Under the contract
Subsea 7 Orders Heavy Construction Vessel
Subsea 7 S.A. has contracted Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to build the new ship. The new-building will be one of the most capable heavy construction vessels in Subsea 7’s fleet of over 40 ships, and is due to be delivered in 2016,
EPA Offers Up to $9 Million for Emission Reduction Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of up to $9 million through the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program (DERA) for Fiscal Year 2013 for new projects to reduce emissions from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines.
Boskalis Report Good Financial Progress
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) say that developments in first quarter 2013 to date are in line with expectations. In their latest trading update Boskalis show: · Revenue higher than in the same period last year
Babcock Wins 'HMS Scott' Support Contract
Through-life engineering support contract for the Royal Navy’s ocean survey vessel 'HMS Scott' awarded to Babcock, initially for 5 years. Under the contract, which includes an option to extend in 2018 for a further five years, Babcock will provide all aspects of through-life support for the
PC Maritime to Install ECDIS in 50-vessel China Shipping Deal
PC Maritime’s Navmaster ECDIS has been chosen by China Shipping Group to be fitted to 50 newbuild bulk carriers. This large ECDIS fleet contract was negotiated by Bogerd Martin NV’s subsidiary company, Bogerd Martin China, based in Shanghai.
NAT Posts 1Q 2013 Results
During the first quarter of 2013, NAT acquired another Suezmax tanker, built to top specifications and launched this year. We expect the ship to be delivered to us by June 15, bringing our total fleet to 21 ships. In April, NAT completed an equity offering, with net proceeds of $102.2 million
Today in U.S. Naval History: May 13
Today in U.S. Naval History - May 13 1908 - Navy Nurse Corps established. 1943 - Bureau of Navigation renamed Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1945 - Aircraft from fast carrier task force begin two-day attack on Kyushu airfields, Japan.
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:
New Scaled Container Ship for Warsash Academy
Warsash Maritime Academy will welcome the eighth scaled ship model to its fleet in May 2013. It will be the first container ship to join the existing fleet at Southampton Solent University’s Ship Handling Center when it is officially launched at a special ceremony.
Lithium Polymer Battery Powers 1,000-passenger Hybrid Ferry
A hybrid electric ferry using Corvus Energy's advanced lithium polymer battery solution was commissioned today in Copenhagen, Denmark by Scandline. The Princess Benedikte ferry refit represents the conversion of a former diesel electric ferry to a hybrid vessel and a major advance in green ferry
Tidewater to Acquire Troms Offshore Supply
US Firm, Tidewater, agrees with HitecVision to purchase Norway's Troms offshore, including 5 large PSV's. Tidewater say that the acquisition of Troms Offshore, headquartered in Tromsø, Norway, will expand their global footprint into the Norwegian sector of the North Sea and supplement