Intracoastal Waterway
New Vessel Traffic Control Tower Completed
A new $1.1m Vessel Traffic Control Tower was recently completed at Mile Marker 99 of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway adjacent to Jesse Fontenot Memorial Boat Landing in Berwick, La. The purpose of the tower is to provide additional camera vantage points looking westward along the Intracoastal Waterway, southward along the Lower Atchafalaya River and northward toward Berwick Bay. In addition, the tower will be equipped with a TERMA radar and Automatic Identification System (AIS) transceiver to update and improve the overall Ports and Waterways Safety System in order to provide increased situational awareness for the U. S. Coast Guard vessel traffic controllers at Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Berwick Bay. Captain Terry Gilbreath, the Commanding Officer of U. S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Morgan City, cooperated closely with the St. Mary's Parish Government and the St. Mary's Parish School Board to arrive at an agreement for a 20-year, no-cost lease for the parcel of land upon which the new vessel traffic tower is located. In addition, permissions were obtained from the Office of the Mayor of the town of Berwick, Louisiana and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for consent to cross the levee to access the parcel of land. Over the entire 16-month project MSU Morgan City worked diligently with contractors from General Dynamics and Pyramid Tower, who were contracted through the Coast Guard's Maintenance & Logistics Command
Unified Command Coordinates Spill Response Near Bayou Perot
The Unified Command has reopened the Intracoastal Waterway near Bayou Perot, La., after a portion of ICW was closed due to a damaged oil wellhead that started spilling sweet crude oil into the bayou early Sunday. The ICW was closed early Sunday between mile markers 19 and 21 when oil from the damaged wellhead entered a portion of the ICW. Cleanup crews have contained and removed the oil from the ICW, and the unified command has reopened the waterway to all vessel traffic.
Preparations for Tropical Storm
The US Coast Guard is advising mariners in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to make all necessary preparations for tropical storm Alberto. Sector Mobile issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin setting Port Condition ZULU and closing the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from Panama City to the eastern boundary of the sector. Sector St. Petersburg issued a Press Release stating that it has set Hurricane Condition 4 – Whiskey – and recommending that commercial vessels greater than 500 gross tons depart
Oil Spill Cleanup Continues on Calcasieu Ship Channel
The Coast Guard opened the Intracoastal Waterway at Calcasieu River to all commercial traffic. The ICW remains closed to recreational traffic from the Calcasieu Lock to mile marker 242. A temporary Vessel Traffic Service, staffed by Coast Guard personnel and industry stakeholders, is coordinating commercial vessel traffic transiting the ICW. Approximately 20 miles of the Calcasieu Ship Channel remain closed due to the spread of oil from a spill at the CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing
USACE Proposes Towboat Acquisition
The Marine Design Center (MDC) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to obtain an inland river style towboat for the purpose of serving the USACE St. Louis District (CELMS) in its next mission. With measurements of 51 x 19 ft., and a design draft of 5.3 ft. the towboat will have an approximate total of 880 hp. The vessel will be used to provide towing and tender service to other district plants and will be suitable for year-round operation in both shallow
Progressive Barge Lines Building
Located at Westwego on the West Bank of the Mississippi across from New Orleans, Progressive Barge Lines is established in the local bunkering business. Recently they have also been pushing barges along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Initially this was to move fuel for their own account but they have also been doing some contract work. As they moved out from the New Orleans area, service for the engines that they used in their five-boat fleet had become an issue.
Fourth Day of Rescue, Recovery Operations Continue
More than 2,580 people have been rescued off of rooftops and flooded neighborhoods since rescue operations began Monday, and joint-agency rescue operations are continuing through the day and night. The Coast Guard’s primary focus along the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana coast will remain search and rescue as long as necessary. Coast Guard assets continue to arrive in the impacted areas. There are 25 cutters off the Gulf Coast, in the rivers, and in the ports and waterways
Lafitte Waterway Closes After Barge Accident
The Intracoastal Waterway closed near Lafitte for almost seven hours Saturday then reopened with some navigational restrictions after a pole attached to a barge hit a bridge and snapped off, www.NewOrleansTimes-Picayune.com reported. Authorities closed the waterway at 12:30 p.m., shortly after the spud pole, used as a stabilizing device on the work barge, hit the bridge and fell on the water. The pole reached 75 feet high, 2 feet higher than the underside of the bridge
House Passes WRDA Bill
Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI ) commended the bipartisan approval last night by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The legislation authorizes critically important projects on the inland waterways including the modernization of seven locks along the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and projects on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at Bayou Sorrel and Matagorda Bay. The final vote was 381-40 to pass the WRDA conference report in the House
BOEMRE Awards $1.3M in Grants for Louisiana
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has awarded four Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grants totaling $1,309,365.91 to Louisiana coastal communities for projects that prevent coastal erosion, develop conservation education opportunities and improve coastal transportation infrastructure. Created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, CIAP provides funding to the six Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing states to conserve and
USACE Wilmington Christen New Survey Boat
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wilmington District name new survey boat 'Swart' at the engineer repair yard. The boat is named after Dirk Swart III (1935-2011) who served as captain and operator of District survey vessel Gillette from 1971 to his retirement in 2002 at the age of 76
Changes to Kirby Corp. Board
C. Berdon Lawrence retires from Board after 13 years of service, William M. Waterman, former President of Penn Maritime, elected to Board. Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, is the nation's largest domestic tank barge operator, transporting bulk liquid products throughout the
Kirby to Announce 4Q Results on 30 January
Kirby Corporation To Announce 2012 Fourth Quarter And Year Results On January 30, 2013, With Conference Call On January 31, 2013. Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") (NYSE:KEX) will announce its 2012 fourth quarter and year results at 5:00 p.m. central time on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
USCG Accepting Applications for TSAC Vacancies
The United States Coast Guard is requesting applications from qualified candidates seeking consideration for appointment as public members to the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC). TSAC advises the Coast Guard on matters relating to shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and
St. Johns Ship Building to Build Skanska Barge
St. Johns wins barge contract with one of world’s largest construction companies. St. Johns Ship Building of Palatka, Fla. won a contract to construct a custom crane spud barge for Skanska, one of the largest construction companies in the world. This is the first contract St
McKinney Chooses Mitsubishi
For more than 40 years, McKinney Companies has served the Gulf petroleum and dry cargo industries from its headquarters on the Mississippi River and Intracoastal Waterway. The latest addition to the towing fleet is the shiny new Mac Andrew McKinney
Ranger Tugs Delivers 100th R29
Wefings Marine Celebrates Sale of the First and 100th R29. Ranger Tugs is pleased to announce the delivery of the 100th Ranger Tug 29 to her new owners. The 100th boat was sold by Marc Grove, owner of Wefings Marine, the Apalachicola, Florida-based Ranger Tugs dealer
MTU Series 4000 Marine Engines Selected by Southern Towing
Tognum America Inc., a Tognum Group subsidiary and manufacturer of marine and off-highway engines, will supply twelve MTU Series 4000 diesel engines to power six push boats operated by Southern Towing Company, an established inland waterways barge operator on the Mississippi River system and the
Silver Ships Delivers Patrol Boats to NC Sheriffs
Silver Ships, Inc. recently delivered two 27’ Patrol Boats to the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriff’s Departments. The vessels will be tasked with patrolling the Intracoastal Waterways, the Cape Fear River and coastal waters as well as the surrounding estuaries and
Kirby Corp. to Acquire Allied Transportation
Kirby Corporation agrees to purchase assets of Allied Transportation Company, a subsidiary of Allied Marine Industries, & two affiliated companies. Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, is the nation's largest domestic tank barge operator
Bollinger Delivers 55,000 Barrel OPA'90 Tank Barget
Bollinger Delivers 55,000 Barrel OPA'90 Tank Barget To Bouchard. Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered the B. No. 250, a newly designed and constructed 55,000 barrel OPA’90 compliant tank barge to Bouchard Transportation
Bollinger Long-serve V-P Larry Vauclin to Retire
Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. announce the upcoming retirement of its Vice President Central Division, Larry Vauclin. Vauclin’s retirement was announced by Bollinger Executive Vice President, Ben Bordelon, who said, "Larry has been a critical part of the growth of Bollinger over the past
Bollinger VP Larry Vauclin to Retire
Bollinger VP Larry Vauclin to Retire After 52 Years in the Shipyard Industry Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. announced the upcoming retirement of its Vice President Central Division, Larry Vauclin. Vauclin’s retirement was announced by Bollinger Executive Vice President, Ben Bordelon, who said
Bollinger Awarded Six OSV Conversions from Hornbeck
Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. has been awarded a contract by Hornbeck Offshore Services (HOS) to convert six (6) 200 class DP1 offshore supply vessels (OSV’s), to 240 class DP2 OSV’s. The announcement was made by Bollinger executive vice president, Ben Bordelon, who said
Kirby Complete Penn Maritime Takeover
Kirby Corporation completes the acquisition of Penn Maritime Inc. & Maritime Investments LLC, US operators of tank barges and tugboats. Penn's fleet, comprised of 18 double-hulled tank barges with a capacity of 1.9 million barrels and 16 tugboats