Ship Protection
Foster-Miller Awarded $1m Contract for Boat Trap Net
QinetiQ subsidiary Foster-Miller Inc, has been awarded a $1 million contract to further develop its advanced Boat Trap system by the United States Department of Defense Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, working closely with the US Coast Guard. Designed to bolster US harbor security and protect coastal military bases abroad, Boat Trap is a non lethal, ballistic net that is deployed from a helicopter into the path of a threatening speedboat traveling at high speed. It is designed to entangle the propeller, causing the craft to immediately stop. Port security and ship protection has become a central issue in the war on terror and recent assessments of US port security has highlighted the risk from terrorists' using speed boats as a mode of attack. The attack on USS COLE, in Yemen in October 2000 demonstrated the destructive potential of a surface attack and the vulnerability of ships in port. The Boat Trap system was extensively tested in 2005, stopping 100 percent of its targets. The tests were conducted at the US Coast Guard Special Mission Training Center (SMTC) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, South Padre Island, Texas, and at CAPEX demonstrations in Honolulu, Hawaii. Moscow-Mills Manufacturing of Moscow, Vermont, is also now working with Foster Miller in the continued development, testing and manufacturing of the Boat Trap system.
L-3 MAPPS Awarded Contract for Degaussing Systems
L-3 MAPPS won a contract to supply degaussing systems for the Royal Canadian Navy’s 12 KINGSTON-Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels. These degaussing systems will be delivered and supported locally in collaboration with SAM Electronics, an L-3 company, which produces one of the most effective means of ship protection against modern sea mines. The SAM Electronics solution reduces the magnetic signature of ships to safe levels mitigating the threat from sea mines and has been
New Corrosion Protection System from GL
Germanischer Lloyd has issued rules for corrosion protection in crude oil tanks, to increases the service life, reduces maintenance and renders better resale opportunity. This protection system is being documented in a special class notation "Cargo Tank Coating.” "Cargo Tank Coating" defines the coating details, including specification of where to coat how, the surface preparation as well as the surveying process. In the course of the year
Underwater Surveillance and Protection
Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA) signed a contract with the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD) for Underwater Surveillance and Protection. Kongsberg by KDA will carry out the three-year project in cooperation with Kongsberg Maritime (KM) and Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI), and assisted by the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN). First version of the integrated surveillance and protection system has already been installed at
Cathelco, UMC Complete 1st Project
The first joint venture project between Cathelco and UMC International has been completed at the Yonderberry fuelling jetty at Torpoint in Plymouth. Earlier this year, the two companies created an alliance enabling the specialist diving services of UMC International to be used for the installation and maintenance of corrosion protection systems supplied by Cathelco. The Yonderberry jetty project, commissioned by Babcock
UK P&I Club: 7.5% Rate Increase
At its annual board meeting on 29 October 2012, the board of the UK P&I Club (the Club), one of the oldest shipping protection and indemnity insurance mutuals, agreed that the general increase for 2013 renewal will be 7.5 percent. The premium rating increase is in addition to any increase in the cost of the International Group reinsurance premium for 2013 for the mutual members, which will be determined in the New Year.
Northrop Grumman Awarded SPS Contract
Northrop Grumman Corp., Electronic Systems, Annapolis, Md., is being awarded a $6,026,646 firm-fixed-price/cost type contract for the Shipboard Protection System (SPS). The purpose of the SPS system is to enhance the ability of naval vessels to accomplish self-protection while moored to a pier, at anchor, or during restricted maneuvering. The system shall provide a host ship with a fully integrated and seamless sensor, analysis, and response system that will
DHS Proposes Critical Infrastructure Information Protection
The Department of Homeland Security issued proposed regulations for protection of information regarding critical infrastructure. The responsibilities of the Department include the taking of action to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States and to reduce the vulnerability of the United States to acts of terrorism. The reduction of that vulnerability includes the protection of vital physical or computer-based systems and assets, collectively referred to as "critical infrastructure
SeaDragon II to Get Corrosion Protection System
The second semi-submersible rig to be built for SeaDragon Offshore will have a hull corrosion protection system designed and supplied by Cathelco Jotun. The SeaDragon Offshore project involves the construction of two hulls which will be built in Russian yards and fitted out at Teesside in the U.K. The first of the semi-submersibles is already under construction at the Sevmash yard for completion in 2008. The second hull is to be built at the Vyborg yard and delivered to Teesside in
MARAD Issues Report on Port and Shipping Safety
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) released its quarterly report on port and shipping safety and environmental protection. This report discusses the latest session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee; the bill to reauthorize the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21); the Coast Guard’s interim maritime security regulations; and the OECD report on Security in Maritime Transportation.
Castrol Marine Extends Cyltech 80 AW Availability
”We have responded to increasing demand from our customers for wider availability of our Cyltech 80 AW cylinder oil by expanding the supply network from five to 35 ports in key regions,” said David Goosey, Castrol Marine’s Chief Executive and Sales Director
PSSA Interactive Display Launched at IMO
A new interactive display on Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) has been launched at IMO Headquarters and online at www.pssa.imo.org. A PSSA is an area that needs special protection through action by IMO because of its significance for recognized ecological or socio-economic or scientific
Rebuilding the Presumption of Preemption
I propose that the Legislative, Executive, Judicial Branches of the federal government should cooperatively work toward the rebuilding of the presumption in favor of federal preemption with respect to all matters related to maritime commerce
Australian Reef Protected by New Safety Initiative
To protect the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia’s north-west region, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to establish an area ships should avoid. A new AMSA Marine Notice will recommend ships keep at least two nautical miles from the edge of Ningaloo
European Vessels Engage in Operation Against Piracy
Since April 2013, the Jeanne d'Arc group, composed of the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Tonnerre, the Antisubmarine Frigate (ASF) Georges Leygues, the Light Surveillance Frigate (LSF) Nivôse, and the Off-Shore Patrol Vessel (OSV) Adroitare
OMEGA Introduces Submersible Pressure Transducers
Omega's new products will be featured at the Sensors Expo and Conference, June 5-7 in Rosemont, Ill. Omega introduces its new series of pressure transducers with precision micromachined silicon sensor. The PX709GW features lightning/surge protection for amplified models, fused polyurethane cable
Damaged Hull Coating Cause of Cutter Corrosion
The U.S. Coast Guard's Engineering Analysis Board has identified factors associated with corrosion on the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter 'Stratton'. The Engineering Analysis Board concluded that the unusual pattern of corrosion observed on the Stratton was caused by Damage to the
FuelTrax Obtains European Union Patent Protection
Nautical Control Solutions, LP (NCS) announced that its FuelTrax Marine Fuel Management system has been granted patent protection by the European Patent Office (EPO). The EPO is a member of the Trilateral Cooperation established in 1983 between the European, Japanese
Bahrain Mine Counter-measures Exercise Draws 41 Nations
International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) 13 sees a gathering of 35 ships, 18 Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) & over 100 explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) divers. Representatives from 41 nations are assembled in Bahrain to prepare for International Mine Countermeasures
Seacurus Welcomes New Lloyd’s Seafarer Abandonment Risk Code
Specialist marine insurance intermediary Seacurus has welcomed the decision of Lloyd’s to amend its risk codes to include a new class of insurance covering seafarer abandonment (SA). Lloyd’s provides guidance to underwriters on the classification of business into
Coast Guard, BSEE to Share Offshore Safety Duties
U.S. Coast Guard ond Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement sign agreement to improve offshore oversight. U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director James Watson and
Jotun Launches Fire Protection Coating for Energy Industy
Jotun launched Jotachar JF750, the passive fire protection (PFP) coating system which they say significantly reduces installation time and cuts material costs. Following an extensive development and testing program, the launch of Jotun’s new mesh free PFP helps owners
Washington Coast Guard Crew Deploys to South Korea
Through chilling winds and choppy seas, five-man crews aboard small, gray security boats worked tirelessly for 10 days patrolling the waters around a massive 348-foot petroleum vessel near the coast of Pohang, South Korea. Boat crews from Port Security Unit (PSU) 313 worked night and day to
Ship Energy, BWMS, Recycling on MEPC Agenda
The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meets for its 65th session from 13 to 17 May 2013, at IMO HQ in London. Items on a busy agenda include the implementation of energy-efficiency regulations and the ballast water management and ship-recycling treaties.
Wärtsilä BWTS Receives IMO Final Approval
Wärtsilä has received the Final Approval status from the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) for its Wärtsilä Aquarius EC Ballast Water Management System. The approval was granted at the MEPC's 65th session held at the IMO