North Florida

North Florida Shipyards Awarded MarAd Contract

American Overseas Marine Corporation (AMSEA), on behalf of MarAd, has granted North Florida Shipyards (Jacksonville), a contract to modify deck spaces of M/V Cape Wrath. With work encompassing the removal of six movable decks, and one fixed deck, three new fixed decks will be fabricated by the yard's affiliate - North Florida Shipbuilding - and installed in the cargo spaces. Additional modifications will be performed on fire stations, vent systems, lighting and hydraulic systems to serve the new deck areas.

Awarded: $17.1m in U.S. Shipyard Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration today announced $17.1 million in grants to 14 small shipyards in 10 states.  The grants are part of the Assistance to Small Shipyards program. “Small shipyards are vitally important for the health of the maritime industry, and for the nation’s economy,” said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.  The purpose of the grants is to make capital and infrastructure improvements that facilitate the

Tobin to Head Security Business Development at Thales

Thales North America has announced that Frank T. Tobin Jr., formerly Senior Vice President of Spectrum Solutions Group, has joined the company’s Business Development team in the newly created position of Vice President, Homeland Security. “Frank’s extensive experience in, and knowledge of, the homeland security and defense marketplaces make him an obvious choice for Thales as we step up our efforts to promote our extensive catalog of homeland security, IT, aerospace and defense products

New Service - Port Everglades to Amazon

Bringer Lines, a Miami-based air and ocean shipping company, is beginning a new service from Port Everglades to the Amazon region of Brazil with Japanese cargo shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd , better known as “K” Line. “The Broward County Commission has long recognized the trade opportunities created by having an oceangoing shipping service to Brazil as Florida’s leading trade partner

Portsmouth-Based Cutter Returns from Patrol

The Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane returns home Saturday, June 7 at 1 p.m. from a 61-day patrol in support of maritime homeland security, counter-drug operations and alien migrant interdiction in the Florida Straits and Caribbean Sea. At the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom and with the national threat level at orange, Harriet Lane was ordered to patrol the Florida Straits and positively identify shipping traffic approaching the southern U.S. through the well-traveled old Bahama channel

Calypso LNG Deepwater Port Application Deemed Complete By Coast Guard

Suez Energy North America's subsidiary, Calypso LNG, LLC has received a letter from the United States Coast Guard deeming complete Calypso's application for a Deepwater Port License. A Notice of Application will be published in the Federal Register which will start a statutory review period for approval of a license to build and operate Calypso's proposed offshore liquefied natural gas facility. On March 1, 2006, Calypso filed a Deepwater Port License Application with the U.S

Florida Keys' Particularly Sensitive Sea Area

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states that, commencing December 1, 2002, vessels in excess of 50 meters must avoid coral reefs in the Florida Keys. On that date, the IMO designation of those reefs as the Florida Keys' Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) comes into effect. Anchoring is also prohibited in portions of the PSSA. Source: HK Law

Florida Detroit-Diesel Allison And Algae-X Sign Distributor Agreement

Algae-X has signed a distributor agreement with Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison (FDD-A)-based in Miami, Fla. FDD-A, which is the Detroit Diesel/MTU engine distributor operating eight branches throughout Florida, will be distributing the Algae-X Magnetic Fuel Conditioners and the AFC-705 Fuel Catalyst. In addition, Tyler Miller, FDDA's Parts Department Coordinator, plans to integrate Algae-X Fuel Conditioners into the fuel systems for engine packages

Aker Yards Opens Florida Office

Aker Yards Lifecycle Services (LCS) specializes in ship conversion and refurbishment projects, one of the most challenging being the lengthening of RCCL`s cruise vessel "Enchantment of the Seas" last year. Aker Yards offers a full range of services: Conversion, Passenger Area and Ship System Services, including consulting, project development, project management, turn-key projects, maintenance and spare parts. In order to support LCS`s sales and project execution in North America and the

Royal Caribbean Is Granted Extension on Two Ship Option

Royal Caribbean is pushing back to late June final decisions on building two new 2,100-passenger ships costing about $500 million each. The move by Royal Caribbean, which is based in Miami and has a 19-ship fleet, comes amid a dramatic expansion of cruise ship fleets. The industry last year added 11 percent to passenger capacity and is scheduled to add 55 ships over the next four years. Royal Caribbean announced on Tuesday that the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany