Signal International
Boomtown Barge Headed for Repairs
According to reports, Tugboats began towing Boomtown Casino's gambling barge to a dry dock in Pascagoula. The repairs at Signal International should take about three weeks, company officials said. Penn National Gaming, which owns Boomtown and Casino Magic Bay St. Louis, has committed to rebuild its Coast properties. Company executives are expected to release more information this week when they issue a quarterly earnings report and host a conference call. Source: SunHerald
GSSC Shipfitter Boot Camp Produces 18 for Industry
12 Graduate from GSSC Shipfitter Boot Camp and Have Jobs Waiting for Them. In November 2011, 18 individuals started an intensive 10-week shipfitter boot camp that was developed by the Gulf States Shipbuilders Consortium (GSSC) to prepare workers for entry-level employment in the maritime industry. Before an invitation was extended to participate in the training program, candidates completed prequalification activities that included drug testing, WorkKeys® assessments
NOAA to Ensure GPS Accuracy
NOAA will lead an international effort to pinpoint the locations of more than 40 global positioning satellites in Earth orbit, which is vital to ensuring the accuracy of GPS data that millions worldwide rely upon every day for safe navigation and commerce. NOAA personnel will compile and analyze satellite orbit data from 10 analysis centers worldwide to ensure the accuracy of GPS information. For the next four years NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey will serve as the Analysis Center
70 Shipyards Awarded ARRA Grants
The Department of Transportation has announced 70 grants totaling $98m in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds that will be used to improve small shipyards throughout the United States. The funds, awarded through the Maritime Administration’s Assistance to Small Shipyards program, will help create and preserve jobs, provide valuable employment training and make much needed improvements to shipyards across the country.
Five Minutes with Richard Marler, Chairman, President & CEO, Signal International
In the June 2010 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News (www.marinelink.com), we had the opportunity to meet with Richard Marler, Chairman, President and CEO of Signal International, on the sidelines of OTC to discuss his company’s rapid growth and promising future. – by Greg Trauthwein, Editor What is the primary focus of Signal International? RM Our principal focus is offshore drilling rig and ship overhaul, repair, upgrade and conversion
BAE Sees Way to Replace GPS
BAE Systems unveils research on an advanced positioning system using existing transmissions to calculate accurately the user’s location Military platforms commonly use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to find their position and navigate. GPS rely upon a specific and relatively weak satellite signal that is vulnerable to disruption. Known as Navigation via Signals of Opportunity (NAVSOP), BAE Systems’ new system is able to calculate its position by making use of the hundreds of
Spectrum Signal Processing to Support the U.S. Navy Unmanned Surface Vehicles
Spectrum Signal Processing Inc., a subsidiary of Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. announced that the Government Communications Systems Division of Harris Corporation has selected Spectrum's flexComm SDR-4000 rugged software defined radio (SDR) solution to be deployed in field trials of the United States Navy's Multi-Mission Unmanned Surface Vehicles (MMUSV). Under the agreement, Spectrum will supply the signal processing system onboard the MMUSV that communicates with a processing system
Italian Authorities Continue Ship Search
A ship, called the Davis, believed to be carrying as many as 180 illegal immigrants was still missing on Monday, after sending a distress signal from waters off southern Italy on Saturday evening, the Italian coastguard said. The coastguard searched all weekend for the ship with speedboats and a helicopter but found nothing. "The search is still continuing," a spokesman for the Brindisi coastguard said on Monday morning
Hurricane Ida Emergency Marine Equipment Supply
Less than 24 hours after Hurricane Ida reached the coast of La., trucks were leaving Tideland Signal’s factory loaded with solar powered marine beacons and fog signals desperately needed to mark the Gulf Coast’s vital offshore oil wells. Emergency spares, sent to replace existing equipment damaged during the hurricane, arrived at coastal staging areas ready for immediate deployment well before the coastal helicopter and workboat fleets were set to depart offshore.
USCG – GPS testing off North Carolina
The USCG Navigation Center (NAVCEN) has issued a special notice stating that, from 3 through 10 February daily from 1600 EST to 2145 EST, the GPS navigation signal in waters off Wilmington, North Carolina may be unreliable due to testing of GPS signals used by shipboard, aviation, and handheld navigation devices. From Feb 03 through Feb 10, 2012, daily from 1600 EST to 2145 EST, the GPS navigation signal may be unreliable due to testing on GPS frequencies used by shipboard navigation
Tideland Warning Systems for Golden Eagle Platforms
Tideland Signal supplied a package of Syncrolan LED light stations and fog signals for the Golden Eagle Area development in the U.K. sector of the North Sea, about 43 miles (69 kilometers) from Aberdeen. Tideland's warning systems will protect both Golden Eagle's wellhead platform and the
Green Lights on Singapore Strait TSS Crossing
IMO's Maritime Safety Committee has adopted an earlier recommendation that ships display 3 all-round green lights when crossing the Singapore Strait Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). The night signals identify these vessels crossing the TSS during hours of darkness which will allow other vessels
New Explosion-proof Pressure Transmitter from AST
American Sensor Technologies, Inc. (AST) released the AST46DS Explosion-Proof Pressure Transducer with Display with pressures from 1 to 20,000 PSI available. The AST46DS is a transducer with zero function capability, voltage or 4-20mA output signals, and all 316L stainless steel sensor materials
Strategic Marine Delivers Two Windfarm Service Vessels
Specialist boatbuilder Strategic Marine delivered the Njord Puffin to offshore windfarm service fleet operator Njord Offshore for deployment in Northern Europe. “The Puffin is the sixth in a series of eight vessels ordered, a strong signal of our commitment to the global windfarm industry
NOAA Satellites Aid in 263 Rescues in 2012
The same NOAA weather and climate satellites that accurately tracked Hurricane Sandy’s path in October also played a key role in rescuing 263 people in 111 emergencies in the United States and surrounding waters in 2012. Since NOAA’s seven operational satellites circle the
Signal Ship Repair Achieves 1000 Days
Signal Ship Repair, a division of Signal International, Inc., recently attained a milestone of 1,000 days without a lost time injury, on January 30th, 2013. This significant milestone was achieved by the commitment of all Signal Ship Repair employees towards a safe work environment
Buzz Marine Adds Switchbox to HubbaX
UK based Buzz Marine, the suppliers of HubbaX mobile broadband for maritime applications, has developed a new system for its mini dome to allow automatic switch from a vessel’s VSAT communications system to its land-based mobile system on which the HubbaX operates
Bollinger HSE Executive Wins Award
Jodi Satches named 2011-2012 Safety Professional of the Year by Signal Mutual Indemnity Association Ltd. Ms. Satches is Bollinger's Vice President,Health, Safety & Environmental Services, and the award was presented to her recentlly at the Signal Mutual Board of Directors Meeting in Orlando
Offshore UK: Government Brokers Use of BP Emergency Vessel
The agreement between the government and BP allows HM Coasguard to call on a BP-chartered vessel in the event of a pollution incident. An operational and commercial model has been brokered with the oil industry allowing HM Coastguard to call on a BP-chartered vessel, the Grampian Frontier
New Ship-based System Takes Out GPS Jamming Threat
With GPS jamming a growing worry for UK shipping, a new device seamlessly switches systems to counter the navigational menace. In development since 2005, the ACCSEAS project used a system on the vessel THV Galatea in the seas off Harwich to show that the PNT (Positioning
Attach a Transponder to Relocate Underwater Assets
JW Fishers, manufacturers of underwater search equipment, advise that transponders make locating underwater objects easy. Attempting to relocate underwater objects in a low visibility environment can be a difficult and time consuming task. Acoustic transponders solve this problem
e-Navigation: Multi-GNSS Receiver Chips Coming
Furuno say new multi-GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver chips "eRideOPUS 6" and "eRideOPUS 7" will be available from summer 2013. The new receiver chips are multi-GNSS compliant single-chip LSIs, capable of concurrently receiving signals from multiple
'Carnival Triumph' Blown off Berth in Repair Shipyard
Strong winds parted the cruise ship's moorings in the BAE shipyard, setting her adrift in the Mobile River until assisted by tugs. One shipyard worker reported missing and is being searched for by Coast Guard Sector Mobile, while one other employee was recovered safely.
Signal Demands Arbitration on GLDD Design Modifications
Signal International, Inc., announced that work toward the design of an Articulated Tug/Barge Hopper Dredge for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock (GLDD) has been discontinued. Signal and GLDD entered into a contract for both the design and build of an AT/B Hopper Dredge in August 2012
Dometic Marine Appoints Haynes
Dometic Marine signaled its intent to focus on the commercial market with the appointment of 25-year company employee Ben Haynes to the Commercial and Military Marine portion of Dometic Americas. International Technical Sales Manager Haynes