Survey Ship

Vosper Thornycroft “Preferred Bidder” For New Ship Contract

U.K. shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft Holdings Plc has been selected as preferred bidder by the Ministry of Defense to supply two survey ships in a deal worth up to $150 million. "Our selection as preferred bidder is recognition of our expertise in the U.K. and overseas as a prime contractor," Chief Executive Martin Jay said in a statement. The 90-m vessels are due for delivery in 2002 and Vosper anticipates signing the contract by early summer. The deal was expected to include a 25-year support package for the vessels.

Heezen Visits Vietnam

Oceanographic survey ship Bruce C. Heezen is pushed to the pier by commercial tugs as the ship makes her first visit to Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Heezen will host representatives from Vietnam’s Hydro-Meteorological Service and other agencies. Briefings and static displays will include an overview of the U.S. Navy’s oceanographic program and will demonstrate the value of hydrographic, oceanographic and meteorological data in ocean prediction as well as safe and secure navigation. (U.S

NOAA Ship Surveying Hudson River

NOAA ship Rude - the hydrographic survey ship that located the wreckage of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s aircraft on the sea floor - was in New York through Oct. 17 to survey the Hudson River, south of the George Washington Bridge to 55th Street. Rude (pronounced Rude-dee), which uses sonar technology to locate sea floor obstructions and other navigational hazards for nautical charts, conducted the survey at the request of the New York Harbor Safety, Navigation and Operations Committee and the U.S

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles Successful at Talisman Saber

The Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command (NMAWC) Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) Platoon completed its support of Talisman Saber 2007 on June 18, executing multiple Remote Environmental Monitoring Units (REMUS) missions off the northeastern coast of Australia. Talisman Saber 2007, the second U.S.-Australian bilateral biennial exercise, began June 12 and will be completed July 2. The primary aim is to conduct collective training and interoperability between Australian and U.S

Halter Marine Launches USN Vessel

Halter Marine Group Inc. launched a 329 ft. oceanographic survey ship for the U.S. Navy. The first ever in the Navy's history to be named through a contest, USNS Bruce C. Hezeen will collect data and physical samples from the world's oceans to provide the U.S. Navy with an understanding of its operating environment. Scheduled for delivery in December 2001, the vessel is the fifth of the T-AGS 60 class built at the Halter Moss Point.

Survey Ship Major Refit Contract Awarded to A&P Falmouth

Major refit works on the British survey ship 'HMS Echo' start at A&P Falmouth Shipyard, on the SW coast of England. David Daniel A&P Falmouth Commercial Director said: “We are very familiar with HMS Echo, having carried out her previous refit five years ago and it’s great to have her back. We will carry out survey and maintenance works and upgrade of ship systems on behalf of BAE Systems. HMS Echo is expected to be with us until the end of October

Sonar Imagery Assists Bow Mariner Investigation

(Photo credit: NOAA) The Coast Guard has released two multi-beam sonar images taken by the NOAA ship Rude of the sunken tanker Bow Mariner. The images, taken March 4, are among a suite of side-scan sonar and multi-beam images provided by RUDE to the Coast Guard for use in its investigation of the cause of the explosion that sank the vessel on February 28. Rude (pronounced Rudy) found the wreck on March 2, and initial side-scan imagery showed the placement and orientation of Bow

News: China Preps To Take World Lead

Rapidly rising prices for steel plate in China may be taking the edge off the financial performance at some Chinese shipbuilders. But it will take a lot more than that to undermine shipyards' dramatic expansion plans aimed at ensuring the country's builders produce more ships than any other nation by 2015. In the short run, however, the country's relatively inexperienced builders seem to have failed to read the steel supply signs

High-Speed Ferries Ready for Haiti

High-speed ferry ships MV Huakai and MV Alakai are preparing to sail to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response to provide disaster relief following the Jan. 12 earthquake there. Huakai and Alakai were originally built to serve as passenger and vehicle ferries in Hawaii but were turned over to the Maritime Administration's custody when the ferry service went bankrupt. The ships will be under operational control of the Military Sealift Command during Operation Unified Response

Navy Christens, Launches New Oceanographic Survey Ship

Accompanied by azure blue skies and a stiff breeze, the Navy christened and launched its newest oceanographic survey ship, USNS Maury (T-AGS 66), the last of its class at VT Halter Marine’s shipyard in Moss Point, Miss., in a traditional Navy ceremony on March 27.   The 350-foot ship is named for Cmdr. Matthew F. Maury, considered to be the father of oceanography, nicknamed the “Pathfinder of the Seas” and the first superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory