Off Florida

This Day in Naval History – July 20

1846 - First visit of U.S. warships (USS Columbus and USS Vincennes) to Japan is unsuccessful in negotiating a treaty. 1960 - In first launch of Polaris missile, USS George Washington (SSBN 598) successfully fires 2 operational Polaris missiles while submerged off Florida. 1964 - Four Navy divers enter Project SEALAB I capsule moored 192 feet on the ocean floor off Bermuda for 11 day experiment. 1969 - Former Navy pilot Neil Armstrong is first man to set foot on the moon. While taking the first step, he said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong was Commander of Apollo 11 which during its 8 day mission landed on the Sea of Tranquility. Recovery was by HS-4 helicopters from USS Hornet (CVS-12). (Source: Navy News Service)

Moratorium Off Florida Coast

In addition to the annual Central Gulf lease sales, the Minerals Management Service, part of the U.S. Interior Department, also holds an annual lease sale in the Western Gulf. Lease sales in the Central Gulf typically attract more bids than those in the Western Gulf because the region is richer in oil and gas and more discoveries have been made there. Shallow water drew most attention in the latest Central Gulf lease sale, with bids received on 338 blocks in depths up to 656 ft.

New Bill Brings Drilling to Florida Coast

New legislation that would bring natural gas drilling 20 miles off coastlines in Florida and other states is scheduled to be heard by a U.S. House Committee in Washington, D.C., according to AP reports. The bill is the latest in a series of attempts to expand offshore drilling due to price increases and shortages linked to fuel supply disruptions caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf of Mexico. Drilling opponents so far have been able to beat back attempts to lift presidential

Bollinger Completes Repowering, Modernization of M/V Florida

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., has completed the conversion of the Crescent Towing tug, FLORIDA, from a single engine to a twin-engine boat with 4,000 HP. It is the first of eight Crescent Towing 105-foot sister ships to undergo the same major conversion at Bollinger’s Algiers (New Orleans) repair and conversion shipyard. The FLORIDA’s old engine was replaced with two Caterpillar 3512B engines coupled to Reintjes WAF 673 reduction gears driving 83-inch Bollinger stainless steel propellers

Ferry Collision Kills One

A ferry collided with a recreational boat on Monday in heavy fog off southwest Florida, killing one person and injuring two others aboard the smaller vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The ferry boat Atlantis was making a morning run in the Gulf of Mexico from Fort Myers, Florida, to the Florida Keys when it collided with a 21-ft. (6.4-m) pleasure craft about 9 miles from shore, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Dana Warr.

Coast Guard Postpones Pursuing Refunds For Faulty Ships

The U.S. Coast Guard said it will temporarily stop its review and suspend its pursuit of a $96.1m refund for faulty ships built by Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC), pending a Justice Department investigation.  The Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General are investigating the Coast Guard's Deepwater contracts, including the eight, 123-ft. patrol boats found to have structural problems, the AP reported.

Historic Naval Ship to Sink

A former naval ship which began its career 64 years ago is scheduled to perform a final mission, which might last more than 75 years. The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg has changed its name, served three different military services, been featured in a major motion picture and will perform its final mission as an artificial reef when it is sunk off the coast of Key West, Fla. The 533-foot ship formerly known as the troop transport USS General Harry S

MV Florida get new Cat Power at Bollinger

The Crescent Towing tug Florida undergoes sea trials on the Mississippi River at New Orleans following repowering from single screw to double screw and the replacement of her pilothouse with new equipment and greater visibility provided by new lower exhaust stacks. Florida is the first of eight Crescent tugs to receive the conversion at Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Algiers (New Orleans) shipyard. Bollinger Shipyards recently completed the conversion of the Crescent Towing tug, Florida

G&G Shipping Orders 190-ft Landing Craft

G&G Shipping announces that it has signed and awarded a contract for new construction of a shallow draft 190’ roll-on, roll-off, landing craft to be built by St. Johns Shipbuilding in Palatka, Florida. Mike Grandonico, President of G&G Shipping, states, “We work to continuously offer the best, most reliable, on-time shipping service for our customers throughout the Caribbean and this new vessel will allow us greater capability to expand this quality service to our customers

Coast Guard, BSEE: Repsol Rig Review Complete

Personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement completed a review of the mobile offshore drilling unit Scarabeo 9, Monday, off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago.   The review followed an invitation from the vessel’s operator, Repsol. While aboard the Scarabeo 9, personnel reviewed vessel construction, drilling equipment, and safety systems – including lifesaving and firefighting equipment