Step Closer

Panama Canal Awards First Construction Contract

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) took one step closer to breaking ground for the expansion of the Panama Canal Tuesday, when it officially awarded the first expansion construction project contract to Constructora Urbana S.A. (CUSA). The selection process began May 7, when the ACP released its request for proposals to begin the first of five dry excavation projects to create the new Pacific Locks access channel. This new channel will link a new, third set of locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal). This project represents approximately 16 percent of the total excavation for the new Pacific Locks access channel. At a special ceremony on July 6, the ACP reviewed the bid submissions for the first dry excavation of the new Pacific Locks access channel. The chart below shows the companies that submitted bids and their corresponding bid price. The ACP selected the lowest priced proposal that met all of the project’s requirements.

Zero Emissions Ship a Step Closer

German Greens MEP Michael Cramer welcomes news that development of the world's first hydrogen-fuelled ship has come a step closer. Cramer was speaking at the presentation of "project zero", an initiative designed to develop the first ship generating zero greenhouse gas emissions.
, reports The Parliament. Scandlines, the Danish-German ferry company, wants to develop a ferry servicing a short, 100km route between the two countries, which would be powered, in a sense, by wind

NG: Maritime Laser Demo System Proves Capabilities

Northrop Grumman announced that it recently completed a series of tests of the Maritime Laser Demonstration (MLD) system, moving high-energy lasers a step closer to deployment aboard U.S. Navy ships. According to the company, shore-based tests at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Port Hueneme proved the MLD system's ability to track small boats at long ranges and in a marine environment. "Tracking tests were part of a larger program designed to demonstrate laser weapon system

UK Short Sea Shipping Bureau Takes Shape

A UK Short Sea Shipping Bureau is one step closer to becoming a reality, according to the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS). Over recent months, the ICS has organised a number of meetings with leading bodies in the UK transport industry including the Chamber of Shipping, Freight Transport Association, BIFA, Road Haulage Association and British ports' groups, all of which have given the bureau their full support. The next step is to secure funding from the UK government.

$9.5M for Manhattan Ferry Service

New York area commuters will soon benefit from direct ferry service between Elizabeth, NJ, and lower Manhattan thanks to a $9.5 million federal grant awarded to County of Union, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta said. The Elizabeth ferry project will contribute to the expansion and improvement of transportation services to Lower Manhattan by providing a much needed link for Manhattan residents who work in the rapidly growing Elizabeth area.

NOAA Awards $315K for Great Lakes Restoration Program

A Great Lakes restoration initiative has received a grant of $315,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Sea Grant College Program. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Awarded to the Great Lakes Commission and the Northeast-Midwest Institute and administered by Michigan Sea Grant, the grant will be used to develop science-based restoration priorities and understand successful

Northrop’s ASDS Launched from Host Submarine

The U.S. Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM) Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) and the U.S. Navy's USS Greeneville (SSN 772) have accomplished the last significant test of the ASDS system prior to its Operational Evaluation the successful launching and recovery of the system from a host submarine. For this most recent system test, ASDS Boat 1 successfully completed multiple launch and recovery docking scenarios with the USS Greeneville

Eighth Virginia-Class Submarine, California (SSN 781), Launched

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NSYE:NOC) reached a construction milestone by launching the Virginia-class submarine California (SSN 781) at the company's shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va. on Nov. 14. "Launch is a special milestone in the life of a submarine, this is the first time she's put into the water," said Becky Stewart, vice president of submarines and fleet support for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News. "California is 88 percent complete

Way Clear for First Wind Farm in U.S. Waters

Fishermen’s Energy receives final construction permit for demonstration wind farm off Atlantic City Fishermen’s Energy announce that it has received approval from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for its Individual Permit under the Clean Water Act, for the Fishermen’s Atlantic City Windfarm (“FACW”). This is the final permit required for the construction of the wind farm which will be located directly off of Atlantic City.

Austal USA Team Moves onto Next Stage for LCS

The U.S. Navy has awarded a team that includes Austal USA, a $9 million contract to develop a preliminary design for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). This selection means that of the 6 original teams competing for these awards, the team that includes Austal USA is one of three teams that was down-selected in the competition to build the first two ships of this class. With its expertise in large, high-speed aluminum vessels, Austal, as the designer and builder of