Provides New

Port Security Bill Passes

Congress has approved a homeland security bill with measures that increase port security and that emphasizes Wi-Fi wireless solutions, according to WiFi Wireless, Inc., a company which markets an end-to-end wireless tracking and monitoring system for shipping containers. The bill provides new steps to prevent terrorism at sea ports such as putting nuclear, chemical or biological devices into the 11 million shipping containers entering the country every year. Further measures are expected. The Senate passed the bill by a voice vote and President Bush has signed it into law. Senator Susan Collins, chairwoman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the legislation would be a "major leap ahead" in strengthening national security. The bill approves $400 million a year over five years for risk-based grants for training and exercises only. It also requires the United States' 22 largest ports, which handle 98 percent of all cargo entering the country, to install radiation detectors by the end of next year. Preferential cargo processing is offered to importers who meet certain security requirements which WiFi Wireless says its sytem provides.

Brittany Ferries, Telenor Sign Agreement

Telenor Satellite Services signed a three-year agreement with Brittany Ferries to provide high-speed data communications via satellite. Telenor will provide Ku-Band service for two Brittany vessels, the Val de Loire and Brittany's newest vessel the Pont Aven, with an option to install as many as six additional Sealink systems for the rest of the company's ferry fleet. Operating at speeds up to 192 kbits per second, Telenor's Sealink service provides high-speed data communications

Court Confirms TBS International Plan of Reorganization

TBS International plc announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has confirmed the Company's Plan of Reorganization, paving the way for the reorganized Company's expedited emergence from chapter 11 proceedings, less than 60 days after its February 6 filing. The Plan reflects overwhelming support from its voting lenders to restructure the Company's secured debt and to pay in full in cash all allowed claims of unsecured creditors, including all vendors

Shippers Form Working Group On Jones Act Conflict

The Maritime Cabotage Task Force (MCTF) and the National Industrial Transportation (NIT) League have reached agreement on the establishment of a joint working group which will address Jones Act service issues between U.S.-flag carriers and American shippers. The offer of creating such a group was made by the MCTF in a meeting hosted by the NIT League last week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. At its core, the MCTF offer was an effort to engage the shipper community in a dialogue which goes beyond

Moose Boats Awarded New Contract

Moose Boats Awarded New Contract for City of New Orleans CBRNE Fire Rescue Vessel. Moose Boats, a boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been awarded a new contract from the New Orleans Fire Department for the construction of a M3-36 Monohull CBRNE Fire Rescue Boat. The M3 is a new product line for Moose Boats and incorporates the builder’s established design and quality reputation in a more compact platform than the M1 and M2 Catamaran Vessels.

Todd Shipyards to Overhaul Aircraft Carriers

Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation has been awarded a contract by the United States Navy to provide long-term overhaul and maintenance to the Nimitz Class aircraft carriers (CVN) homeported or assigned for maintenance in . The contract consists of multiple contract options for planned incremental availabilities (PIA’s) and docking planned incremental availabilities (dPIA’s) for the USS LINCOLN (CVN 72), USS STENNIS (CVN 74), USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), and the USS REAGAN (CVN 76)

News: Boeing Connexion Moves to the High Seas

As use of communications at sea expands rapidly, evidence that this trend has entered warp speed was signaled recently as corporate Goliath Boeing announced its plans to roll out is high speed satellite capability to the marine business. Connnexion by Boeing, a business unit of The Boeing Company, announced an expansion of its service offering to include high speed satellite broadband capability for the maritime industry

Nationwide Power Engineering Curriculum Developed

An Office of Naval Research (ONR) supported enterprise brings sweeping changes to electric power & energy education at U.S. universities. “The number of power engineers in the United States is dwindling just when the Navy and the country as a whole need them most,” said Dr. Peter Cho, a program officer in ONR’s Ship Systems and Engineering Research Division who is overseeing the project.

Northrop Reports 4Q Results

Northrop Grumman Corporation reported 2001 fourth quarter economic earnings of $158 million, compared with $106 million for the same period of 2000. On a per share basis, the company reported 2001 fourth quarter economic earnings of $1.55 on average diluted shares outstanding of 98.0 million, compared with economic earnings of $1.46 on average diluted shares outstanding of 72.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2000. Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

Scientists to Launch the Deepwater Shipwreck Study

What happens to shipwrecks in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and why is the answer so important to the oil and gas industry? A team of world-renowned, multidisciplinary scientists representing the federal government, academia, and industry will begin a biological and archaeological investigation of World War II shipwrecks in the deep waters of the Gulf that will address those questions and many more. Just as the importance of our oceans is being recognized and studied by