Moves Forward
Admiral's Thoughts on the LCS Program
The Director, Navy Staff, Vice-Adm. Richard W. Hunt, recommends the LCS council continue, looks to program future. In a recent memo to the Chief of Naval Operations , the Director, Navy Staff, Vice Adm. Richard W. Hunt provided an update on the progress of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Council and outlined the council’s way ahead, including a recommendation that the council remain in place to monitor and provide oversight of the LCS program. Specific achievements attributable to the LCS Council, which has completed all tasks assigned by the CNO in their initial charter, include: • A Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) to ensure LCS meets assigned capabilities and missions has been developed • LCS is on a course to evolve, improve and ultimately deliver critical combat power to the Navy • An LCS program review has been conducted • USS Freedom (LCS 1) is on schedule to deploy in March • Adjustments to manpower, training, maintenance and seaframe have been made to ensure program success In a separate interview, Vice-Admiral Hunt has also addressed the LCS's immediate future : “We are demonstrating an improved product on an almost weekly basis as we move forward with this
Middle East Port of Aden Invites Consultancy Bids
Port of Aden intends to dredge out its access channel, invites bids from consultants The Ministry of Transport and Yemen Gulf of Aden Ports Corporation (Port of Aden) invites qualified consultants companies/firms to express their interest in participation by putting forward their names with the necessary documents to confirm their competence. Aden is described as “Yemen’s Gateway to the World”
Construction Begins on New Orleans Lock Project
The USACE has begun construction on the $585-million replacement of the navigation lock on the Industrial Canal in New Orleans and is now enlisting community leadership to scope out a mitigation plan. Community input is needed because Congress not only approved the construction of a larger, modern lock, but also approved a $35 million Community Impact Mitigation Plan to be carried out during the 10 to 12 years of mitigation.
Northrop Grumman Extends NNS Tender Offer
U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. on Thursday said it has extended its tender offer for the outstanding shares of Newport News Shipbuilding, after the Justice Department requested additional information about the takeover. Los Angeles-based Northrop said it extended its tender offer for Newport News, to July 5 at midnight EDT from the previous June 20 deadline. About 861,000 shares of Newport News common stock had been tendered as of midnight June 20, Northrop said.
MEBA Signs LNG Crewing Agreement with Excelerate Energy
The Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with innovative LNG importer Excelerate Energy to utilize U.S.- citizen deck and engineering officers onboard Excelerate's liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. The issue of Americans onboard LNG vessels has been the focus of congressional and administrative oversight over the last few years. The House Homeland Security Committee scheduled a hearing on March 21st to
INTERTANKO Guide to Reducing Emissions
INTERTANKO is publishing this week its new Guide for a Tanker Energy Efficiency Management Plan (TEEMP). This moves forward in practical terms the IMO process to reduce actual GHG emissions from shipping by assisting operators to implement a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan as recommended by IMO Circular MEPC.1/Circ.683. This Guide is based on INTERTANKO best practice, using information and experience from members with more than 700 tankers
MarAd Resumes Ship Disposal for James River Fleet
The federal government will resume disposing of ships from the James River Reserve Fleet, Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton announced. The announcement follows a February 2007 decision by the agency to suspend ship disposal until regulatory discrepancies among federal and various state agencies had been resolved. “Fast and favorable action by the Commonwealth of Virginia allows us to move forward with disposing of these vessels in an environmentally sensitive manner
GX Technology Agreement With Polarcus
ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE:IO) announced that its seismic imaging subsidiary, GX Technology (GXT), has signed an agreement with The Polarcus Group of Companies (Polarcus) for the provision of seismic data processing services. This agreement includes onboard quality control (QC), onboard processing, and land-based data processing (DP) services. The agreement calls for GXT to provide hardware, software and geophysicists in order to support a seismic project's entire imaging lifecycle
PD Ports Container Handling Milestone
In November, PD Ports reached a major new milestone. For the first time Teesport handled over 100,000 containers in a year. This is the highest volume of containers ever recorded at Teesport on the North East coast in any calendar year. Frans Calje, PD Ports’ managing director, unitised, said “We are delighted that in these difficult economic times our efforts have clearly out-performed the market
NMC Reformats Deck & Engine Examination Guide
The National Maritime Center (NMC) has posted a new format of the Deck & Engine Examination Guide on its website. The examination guide has been rewritten to contain information pertinent to USCG administered credential examinations for deck and engine endorsements and associated regulations. As the NMC moves forward, the new format allows the agency to quickly revise the guide in response to regulation and policy changes
Catherwood Buys Tugboat, Side-swaps Engines
Catherwood Towing's owner, Ernie Catherwood, adds another tugboat to his 14-boat fleet that operates in and around Canada's Fraser River. The 39-year old boat was at a shipyard undergoing a scheduled Canadian Steamship Inspection. Ernie had marine surveyor Mark McAllister and his port engineer
Obama Admin. Announce 21 Million Acre Oil and Gas Lease Sale
August Auction to offer all Unleased Acreage in Western Gulf of Mexico As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to continue to expand domestic energy production, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals
Naval Aviation History in the Making Aboard CVN 77
Unmanned aircraft accomplishes first ever ‘touch-and -go’ aboard aircraft carrier CVN 77. The Navy's X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) has begun touch-and-go landing operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush following on board launching.
Wison VP to Speak at FLNG Conference
Shanghai-based Wison Offshore & Marine Ltd., a subsidiary of the Wison Group, announced that Vice President of LNG Sales, Tor-Ivar Guttulsrod, will speak in the Strategy Roundtable of Floating LNG 2013, the world’s largest conference on floating LNG on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. Mr
MPC to Participate in Oil-In-Ice Exercise
Culminating a three-year effort, Marine Pollution Control, in conjunction with the Coast Guard’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) program, will participate in an Oil-in-Ice Exercise in St. Ignace, MI, the week of February 18.
Gulftainer Reports Huge Middle East Port Growth
Gulftainer has recorded a 24% overall increase on trade volumes in 2012 when compared with the previous year. Its Sharjah ports saw the greatest volumes throughout the year, with Khorfakkan Container Terminal seeing growth of 28 per cent on its 2011 figures with a staggering throughput of over 3
CNO Addresses Budget Cuts, Navy Shipbuilding Needs
Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert Stresses Need for Flexible Platform Use in Future Navy. February 21, 2013, Crystal City, VA – The U.S. Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert stressed the need for industry and the navy to work closer moving forward
Treasure Hunters, Odyssey, Came Up Silver in 2012
Odyssey Marine Exploration reports financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012. Fourth Quarter 2012 Financial and Operational Highlights Total revenue in the fourth quarter was $7.9 million as compared to $0.9 million in the same year-ago quarter.
Canadian Seaway: Transit Rate Increase
The Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) increase tolls 3% for 2013 season. There are no tolls charged for transiting the U.S. section of the Seaway's lock system which is operated by the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
BAE Systems to Build More Jackson Offshore PSV's
BAE Systems’ shipyard in Florida to build two additional platform supply vessels (PSV's) for Jackson Offshore Operators under a contract option. The new vessels, which will service offshore drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico, reflect BAE Systems’ continued growth in U.S
WOC Launches International Ocean Industry Working Group
The World Ocean Council’s newly formed Marine Sound Working Group is a collaborative industry forum focused on identifying and implementing real-world technical and operational solutions to understand and reduce potential negative impacts of sound from industrial activities on marine life
Appointment at A.S.A.P. Supplies
Worldwide Distributor of marine equipment and spares, A.S.A.P. Supplies Ltd, appointed Tom Edwards as Sales Manager. Formerly Supervisor of the Sales department, Mr. Edwards’ promotion is welcomed by the Board. The Company based in Beccles, Suffolk have seen Mr
RADM Pickavance on College Maritime Program
Rear Adm. William W. Pickavance, Jr. has joined San Jacinto College as a consultant to the maritime program. Pickavance, who served as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine, spent 32 years on active duty as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Navy
JK Fabrication’s Emergency Towing Reel
You’ve got an emergency towing wire. Of course you do. It’s rusted beyond belief, probably retired from primary service two years ago when it developed that kink and those nasty fishhooks. And, it’s deployed where it should be; out on deck, in the open and exposed to the elements
Construction Update: Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4
TUI Cruises President and CEO Richard Vogel is in Finland this week reviewing the status of the construction of the company’s two ship orders, Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4, and provided an update. Mr. Vogel noted that construction on Mein Schiff 3 at STX Finland is now 25% complete