North Atlantic

Greenpeace Wins Bid To Delay North Atlantic Exploration

Greenpeace won its bid to delay oil exploration in the north Atlantic when a judge ruled the British government was failing to apply a European Commission environmental directive in allocating licenses. The government is considering an appeal against the judgment on the basis that it is not taking into account the Commission's Habitats Directive in issuing exploration licenses. A spokesman said the government had been planning to issue new licenses in its 19th round early in 2000, but this was likely to be delayed. Ten energy companies were also party to the case. These were: Texaco, Esso UK, Marathon Oil UK, Mobil North Sea, Enterprise Oil, Conoco Ltd, Statoil, Philips Petroleum Co UK, Elf Exploration and British Gas Exploration and Production.

Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction – ANPRM

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) discussing possible strategies to reduce mortalities to North Atlantic right whales as a result of vessel collisions. Strategies being considered include new operational measures (such as routing and speed restrictions), negotiation of a conservation agreement with Canada, and new education and outreach programs. Comments on the ANPRM should be submitted by August 2, 2004

This Day in Naval History - Aug. 17

From the Navy News Service 1812 - Frigate President captures British schooner L'Adeline in North Atlantic. 1942 - Submarines USS Nautilus (SS 168) and USS Argonaut (SS 166) land 222 Marines on Makin Island, first amphibious attack made from submarines. 1959 - Adm. Arleigh Burke re-appointed as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for third two-year term, serving longest term as CNO. 1962 - Navy's first hydrofoil patrol craft, USS High Point (PCH 1) launched at Seattle, Wash.

Donjon-SMIT Provides Emergency Assistance

On Monday, January 18, 2010, Donjon-SMIT, LLC, an OPA-90 Alliance, was notified by QI Gallagher Marine Services that a vessel required emergency towing assistance.  The Tavricheski Bridge, managed by UNICOM Ship Management, had broken a main engine camshaft and lost main propulsion 160 miles Southeast of Nantucket in the North Atlantic.  The Tavricheski Bridge, a 50,300 GT tanker, was carrying 32,500 MTs of Naptha

North Atlantic Right Whale Management Measures

In August 2001, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed ship traffic management measures as a means of reducing the incidence of ship strikes and resulting fatalities of the North Atlantic Right Whale. There are approximately 350 surviving Right Whales, and they are considered to be the most endangered of the large mammals. Through federal regulation, the NMFS implemented a "mandatory ship reporting system" to increase the industry's awareness of the problem and encourage the

Cruise Ship Follows in Titanic's Wake

Cruise ship 'Ballmoral' sails from Southampton for New York with remembrance service stopover at 'Titanic' resting place A cruise ship steamed out of the British city of Southampton Sunday to retrace the route taken by the legendary ill-fated ocean liner Titanic 100 years ago, reports VOA. Many of the passengers sailing to New York on the Balmoral are relatives of those who lost their lives when the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic on April 14, 1912.

Korean Shipyard to Construct Ultra-deepwater Rig for Seadrill

Seadrill announce Hyundai Samho Shipyard are contracted to build a harsh environment semi-submersible drilling rig To benefit from the current strong demand for high specification drilling units Seadrill announced that it has entered into a turnkey construction contract with Hyundai Samho Shipyard for the construction of a new harsh environment semisubmersible drilling rig. The new rig will be a sister rig of the harsh environment semi-submersible unit Seadrill's subsidiary North Atlantic

Scientists Drill Atlantic for Climate Change Clues

Ocean drilling expedition retrieves multi- million-year cores from the North Atlantic off Newfoundland. Researchers on board the scientific ocean drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution recently completed an expedition to the North Atlantic, near the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Here, near the final resting place of the ill-fated RMS Titanic, large sediment drifts contain detailed records of the Paleogene – a span of about 40 million years when Earth’s climate shifted from a sultry

Kruse, Director National/Naval Ice Center

Commander Denise Kruse will relieve Captain Raymond Chartier as Director of the National Ice Center (NIC), Commanding Officer of the Naval Ice Center (NAVICECEN),  and CO-Director of the North American Ice Service (NAIS), Suitland, MD at a ceremony to be held at the U.S. Navy Memorial Heritage Center in Washington, DC on December 16, 2008. Captain Chartier has been Director/Commanding Officer since May 23, 2007.

OW Bunker Launches Six Vessels

The six new bunker fuel delivery vessels, OW Baltic, OW Scandinavia, OW Atlantic, OW Las Palmas, OW Aalborg and OW Copenhagen range from 3,500 metric tons (MT) to 5,500 MT.  OW Aalborg, and OW Copenhagen will operate offshore, off Copenhagen, Kalundborg and Skaw, as well as covering all major ports in Denmark, the west coast of Sweden and the south coast of Norway.  OW Baltic and OW Scandinavia will be based in the Baltic and northwest Europe; OW Las Palmas will operate offshore to