River Fleet
Postal Service to Honor Barge Fleeting
U.S. Postal Service to dedicate Earthscapes Forver stamps to include "Barge Fleeting," an aerial view of towing vessels. WHAT: The United States Postal Service will dedicate a series of Forever Stamps entitled “Earthscapes,” one which features an aerial view of Kirby Corporation’s Apollo and Enterprise Marine Services LLC’s Taurus commercial tow boats positioning themselves against liquid tank barges in the Old River Barge Fleeting area near the Houston Ship Channel in Texas. WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Monday, October 1, 2012; the event is free and open to the public. WHERE: Kirby Corporation Old River Fleet, Gate 6, 16524 DeZavala Road, Channelview, Texas WHO: Speakers will be William J. Mitchell, USPS Houston District Manager; Joe Pyne, Chairman and CEO Kirby Corporation; and Jonathan Topper, Board of Directors - Houston Philatelic Society. Background: The Postal Service kicks off October as National Stamp Collecting Month by issuing the Earthscapes Forever stamps. Depicting America’s diverse landscapes on photos taken from ultra-lights to satellites, the stamps provide a view of the nation’s diverse landscapes in a whole new way — from several hundred feet in the sky to several hundred miles in space.
Shipyard Closes, Leaves “Ghost Fleet” Ships in Limbo
The fates of six ships from the James River Reserve Fleet are in limbo after a Maryland salvage yard that was supposed to scrap the vessels abruptly closed and its owners disappeared. North American Ship Recycling Inc., near Baltimore, won federal contracts in August worth $2.1m to dispose of the government-owned dinosaurs. But the yard, which opened in 2004 amid much fanfare, including a celebratory speech from then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y
More Ships to Leave Ghost Fleet
Two more ships are leaving the James River, headed for disposal facilities in Virginia and Maryland, in what has become a regular occurrence since the Bush Administration took over management of the nation’s ship disposal program five years ago, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced. The Howard W. Gilmore is scheduled to leave the James River Reserve Fleet at Fort Eustis on Thursday, making it the 50th ship to leave the river since January 1, 2001
59th Ship Scheduled to Depart James River Reserve Fleet
The State is scheduled to be towed from the James River Reserve Fleet on, July 18. It will be the 59th ship to leave the James River site since January 1, 2001. The State was formerly a training ship for the State University of New York Maritime College, and was known then as the Empire State V. Before that, it was a troop carrier, the USNS Barrett. It will be recycled at the Bay Bridge Enterprises facility in Chesapeake, Va.
Electric Boat Hire Initiative in Chicago
Boat-share company Vantage Yacht Club takes delivery of four electric boats from Duffy Boats Vantage Yacht Club, offering shared yacht ownership announce additions to its Fleet Membership and Non-Member rental fleets with the delivery of four electric Duffy Boats. Arrival of the electric boats is the first such initiative in Chicago. Electric boaters will cruise the Chicago River taking in the sights and sounds of the city while promoting environmental responsibility and sustainability
Uniworld to Bid for Delta Queen Steamboat
Uniworld intends to bid for the assets of New Orleans-based Delta Queen Steamboat Company. The assets include the Delta Queen Steamboat trademarks and logos plus the Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen, the classic American river steamboats. "As the leading provider of river cruise vacations for Americans in Europe, it is logical for Uniworld to expand its fleet to include vessels operating on the fascinating rivers of the United States," said Serba Ilich, President and CEO
Cruise Ships on the River – 'Viking Longship' Christening
River cruise line,Viking River Cruises, names first of four new luxury river cruise boats in Amsterdam Viking River Cruises christened the first four of its new Viking Longships in Amsterdam, in the presence of appointed celebrity 'Godparents' for all four new ships. Accommodating 190 passengers, the new Viking Longships are 443 feet (135 meters) long and feature 95 staterooms per ship and are scheduled to sail four of Viking's most popular European itineraries, including the River Danube
Crowley Marine Services Receives Papu Sur
Crowley Marine Services Paraguay has accepted delivery of Papu Sur, the second of two new Papu-Class river push boats to be deployed in its Mercosur barge feeder service. With a fleet that includes two additional ocean tugs, Papu Viento and Papu Mar, Papu Sur will broaden the feeder service's daily sailings between Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Asuncion and other ports situated along the Parana, Paraguay and Uruguay river system
This Day in Naval History – Dec. 8
1933 - Secretary of the Navy establishes Fleet Marine Force, integrating a ready-to-deploy Marine force with own aircraft into Fleet organization. 1941 - US declares war on Japan. 1941 - USS Wake (PR-3), a river gunboat moored at Shanghai, is only U.S. vessel to surrender during World War II. 1942 - Eight PT boats (PT 36, PT 37, PT 40, PT 43, PT 44, PT 48, PT 59, and PT 109) turn back 8 Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Japanese forces on Guadalcanal.
Last Liberty Ship Departs James River Reserve Fleet
The Arthur M. Huddell was towed from the James River Reserve Fleet on July 8. It will be the 72nd ship to depart the site since January of 2001. The Huddell is the last of the ships in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The Huddell is being towed to the W3 Marine facility in , where preparations will be made to transfer it to . Greek authorities plan to make it into a museum.
China's Century Cruises Adds to Yangtze River Fleet
Century adds a 7th luxury river cruise ship, 'Century Legend' to its Yangtze fleet. The new 398-passenger Century Legend is a sister ship to the Century Paragon, which came into service earlier this year. These new inland waterway cruise ships were designed by European naval architecture firm
New Fireboats Headed to Houston
A two-week voyage through four Great Lakes and the Mississippi River will bring to the Port of Houston Authority the first of three high-performance fireboats to replace the current fleet. "As the nation's busiest port in terms of foreign tonnage and home to one of the world's largest
Viking Goes Blue Water
Viking Cruises launch Viking Ocean Cruises, the first new cruise line in nearly a decade. Developed from the ground up to return the focus of cruising to the destination, Viking Ocean Cruises will begin sailing in May 2015 with its first vessel—Viking Star—embarking on maiden voyages
WCI Applauds Senate for WRDA Bill
In a news press release yesterday, Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) expressed its gratitude to Senate Environment & Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Member David Vitter (R-LA) for their collaborative efforts to draft, manage and pass a long-overdue Water Resources
Illinois River – Temporary Safety Zone
The U.S. Coast Guard established a temporary safety zone on the Illinois River from Mile Marker 231.0 to Mile Marker 271.4 due to salvage and recovery operations in the vicinity of the Marseilles Dam. The safety zone will remain in effect until June 30. 78 Fed. Reg. 28495
Chinese Cargo Ship Hits Yangtze Bridge Pier, Sinks
18 crew members of the ship were rescued shortly before their vessel sank in the Yangtze River after hitting a bridge pier. Damage was visible on a pier of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province after the cargo vessel, loaded with 12
Polar Petroleum Appoints ARCO Alaska Veteran
Polar Petroleum Corp. appointed Mr. Donald W. Brizzolara to the Company's Advisory Board as Chief Geological Advisor. Mr. Brizzolara represents 25 years of experience in oil and gas exploration and development, geology and consulting experience for firms such as ConocoPhillips and Shell.
Cape Fear Federal Pilots Launch New Boat
Cape Fear federal pilot launches its first pilot boat and welcomes its latest customer, US Shipping Corp. After years of using a hired launch vessel for boarding ATB's, tugs and ships at the entrance to the Cape Fear River, the Cape Fear Federal Pilots recently launched its first pilot vessel.
Port of Pittsburgh Seeks New Technology Partners
The Port of Pittsburgh Commission (PPC) is building an innovative wireless broadband network along the rivers in Pittsburgh and is seeking partners to explore new applications for transportation, safety, security and environmental monitoring, according to James R
Keeper of New York Harbor's Spring Ritual
As the Hudson River begins to melt the Coast Guard buoy tender 'Katherine Walker' heads north towards Albany, N.Y. The Katherine Walker is a 175-foot buoy tender, homeported in Bayonne, N.J. Its major mission includes the servicing of aids to navigation throughout New York Harbor
Foss Tugboats Leave Columbia River
Foss Maritime Co. will lay off its 60 workers and leave the Columbia River, OregonLive.com reported. OregonLive said the Seattle company will sell its Columbia River business to Tidewater Barge Lines, which moves grain and other cargo along the Columbia-Snake river system
Flooding Halt Mississippi River Barge Service
The U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers said that record floods will continue to obstruct barges on the Illinois River and parts of the Mississippi River until at least early next week, Reuters reported. Ten locks were closed on the Mississippi River and four on the Illinois River
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
ARTCO Turns to Class NK's SMSLLC for TSMS Help
SMSLLC to help leading tug and barge operator to prepare for new Towing Safety Management Regulation. Safety Management Systems LLC announced on April 18, 2013 that it has won a contract from American River Transportation Company (ARTCO) to assist the company to establish a Towing Safety
Illinois River in Flood: Dam Struck by Barges
A Unified Command of U.S. Coast Guard & the Ingram Barge Company say the Marseilles Dam is structurally sound after 7 barges broke loose nearby. On Friday night the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, providing technical assistance to the Unified Command